Rubalcava, Renteria-Garcia Will Compete in District 3

The Anaheim City Council race will be decided by voters in November as candidates vie for the District 3 seat.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Elections

Rubalcava, Renteria-Garcia Will Compete in District 3

Live Poll

Do you trust the candidates running for your local city council to represent your community's needs?

Incumbent Natalie Rubalcava and challenger Elia Renteria-Garcia are set to face off in the upcoming Anaheim District 3 City Council election this November. Voters in the district will determine who will represent their community of approximately 55,000 residents.

Why it matters

The outcome of this race will shape the seven-member council as the city prepares to enter its seventh housing cycle. The next term will also bridge the transition to 2028, when Anaheim expects its annual general fund to grow by more than $100 million due to the payoff of resort bond debt.

Anaheim currently operates within its sixth housing cycle and maintains a seven-member city council. By 2028, the city expects an annual general fund increase of more than $100 million as resort bond debt reaches maturity.

The players

Natalie Rubalcava

She is the current Anaheim City Council member for District 3 who first won the seat in 2022.

Elia Renteria-Garcia

She is a candidate challenging the incumbent for the Anaheim City Council seat representing District 3.

Carlos Leon

He is an Anaheim City Council member who is seeking a second term unopposed.

Natalie Meeks

She is an Anaheim City Council member currently running for her second term without opposition.

The details

Candidates have provided responses for the official voter guide regarding their priorities for the city. While the District 3 seat is contested, councilmembers Carlos Leon and Natalie Meeks are running unopposed for their second terms.

Natalie Rubalcava won her initial term for the district seat in 2022.
Voters will decide the City Council race in November 2026.
The city projects its annual general fund will exceed $100 million by 2028.

Political Context

Opponents in local elections frequently argue that incumbents have not sufficiently addressed the demands of state-mandated housing cycles. This cycle's debate focuses on how new council members will manage local regulatory responses to those specific housing requirements.

The winner of the District 3 seat will vote on city budget allocations and zoning policies that directly impact the neighborhood. Residents should review the voter guide to understand how the candidates plan to utilize the projected increase in the city general fund by 2028.

The takeaway

Voters in District 3 are choosing representatives who will oversee significant fiscal transitions as debt obligations expire. Engaging with the official voter guide is the most effective way to understand the specific platforms of candidates before heading to the polls this November.