Residents who want to run for Palo Alto City Council can start filing nomination papers Monday, July 13, kicking off the official election season for three at-large seats on the November 3 ballot.

The seats held by Mayor Vicki Veenker, Councilmember Ed Lauing, and Councilmember Julie Lythcott-Haims are all up for election this fall. Candidates have until Thursday, August 7 to submit their paperwork to the City Clerk's Office, according to the Almanac. If any of the three incumbents decline to run, that deadline extends to Tuesday, August 12.

Palo Alto's nine-member council will see a third of its seats decided in a single election. Veenker was selected as mayor at the council's January 2026 reorganization meeting, succeeding Lauing, who had served in the role the previous year. Vice Mayor Greer Stone was chosen at the same meeting.

The City Clerk's Office, which handles all municipal candidate filings, has published a dedicated resource called "The Clerk Chronicles" at paloalto.gov for prospective candidates and residents tracking the race. The page covers the filing process and election timeline.

August engagement planned

The city's Uplift Local newsletter, published by the City Manager's Office on Wednesday, July 9, flagged "August Engagement Opportunities" for residents to mark on their calendars. The city has not yet released specific dates or formats for those events. The newsletter also highlighted election milestones in a section titled "2026 Palo Alto Municipal Election: All You Need to Know and Important Election Milestones."

How to get involved

Prospective candidates can visit the City Clerk's Office or the Clerk Chronicles page at paloalto.gov for filing requirements and deadlines. The nomination window runs Monday, July 13 through Thursday, August 7.

Residents who want to stay informed can sign up for the Uplift Local newsletter through the City Manager's Office. The city said it will share details on August engagement events as they are finalized.