Here are the 2026 Palmer, Wasilla and Houston city candidates

Here's who is running in this year's city elections.

Here are the 2026 Palmer, Wasilla and Houston city candidates
Photo by Element5 Digital / Unsplash

Candidate lists for city elections in Palmer, Wasilla and Houston are now available, with plenty of time before the Oct. 6 general election in each city.

Who is running for city seats this year? Here are the details.

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Who is running for Palmer mayor and City Council?

Palmer voters will decide two races in this year's election: two three-year City Council seats and one one-year City Council seat.

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name and include brief context on each individual.

Palmer City Council (three-year term)

  • Sherry Carrington β€” Incumbent council member
  • Penny Mosher β€” Incumbent council member

Palmer City Council (one-year term)

  • Bruce Brown β€” Retired Alaska public defender
  • Audra "Omega" Jackson β€” President of the Mat-Su Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation

How the Palmer City Council election works

Palmer voters do not elect candidates to specific council seats. Instead, they vote for a set number of candidates based on the number of open seats. The city posts candidate names in alphabetical order on its website.

In 2026, voters will choose two candidates for the three-year terms and one candidate for the one-year term.

The city also allows write-in votes for registered write-in candidates whose names are not printed on the ballot because they registered after the filing deadline.

Where to find Palmer City Council candidate information

Visit the City of Palmer website to view the list of registered candidates.

To find the candidate list later, go to the "Government" tab, click "Elections" and select "Election Information." From there, choose the relevant election and then the "2026 City Council Candidate List."

Who is running for Wasilla mayor and City Council?

Wasilla voters will elect a new mayor this year and fill two three-year City Council seats.

Two of the candidates running for mayor are current City Council members. If one of those candidates wins and vacates a council seat, the vacancy will be filled through an application process and a vote by the council.

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name and include brief context on each individual.

Mayor

  • Stuart (Stu) Graham β€” Current council member
  • Alina Rubio β€” Current council member
  • David Wilson β€” Former state senator

Council Seat C (three-year term)

  • Bruce Webb β€” Oil and gas executive; co-owner of Iron Beauty medical spa

Council Seat D (three-year term)

  • Ian Crafton β€” Incumbent council member
  • David Seals β€” Wasilla Planning Commission chairman

How the Wasilla City Council election works

Unlike Palmer, Wasilla council members are elected to specific seats. Voters may select or write in one candidate per race.

As of now, all 2026 races are uncontested, with one candidate filed for each seat. Write-in candidates may register after the initial filing deadline.

Where to find Wasilla City Council candidate information

Visit the Wasilla website to view the candidate list.

To access it later, select the "Departments" icon on the home page, then navigate to "Elections." From there, click the "Candidate List" under the "Candidates and Sample Ballots" heading.

Who is running for Houston City Council?

The following candidates are registered for the 2026 Houston City Council election:

Seat A

  • Lisa Johansen β€” Incumbent council member
  • Cory Rausch β€” U.S. Army veteran

Seat B

  • Jeffrey Brasel β€” Incumbent council member

How the Houston City Council election works

Like Wasilla, Houston elects council members to specific seats. The 2026 election will fill two at-large seats with three-year terms. Voters may select or write in one candidate per race.

Write-in votes are allowed for candidates who register after the filing deadline.

Houston does not elect a mayor. Instead, the City Council selects a mayor annually from among its members. While current Mayor Carter Cole is not up for reelection, the council could select a different member as mayor after the 2026 general election.

Where to find Houston City Council candidate information

Visit the City of Houston website to view the candidate list.

To navigate to the list:

On desktop: From the home page, click the "Departments" tab, then select "Elections" under "Office of the Clerk." Use the "Candidates and Offices" dropdown menu to access the file. It is the last item listed.

On mobile: Close any image pop-ups on the home page. Tap the three-line menu button, then select "Departments," "Clerk's Office" and "Elections." As on desktop, use the "Candidates and Offices" dropdown menu to view the candidate list.

-- Contact Mat-Su Sentinel at contact@matsusentinel.com



                   

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