Fresno District 7 Runoff Election Set for Tuesday

Nav Gurm and Ariana Martinez Lott compete in a Fresno City Council runoff that follows a June primary decided by about 20 votes.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections

Flat-color editorial illustration of a lone wooden ballot box on a concrete plaza beside an empty flagpole, evoking a close local runoff election. — Voters in Fresno City Council District 7 will decide an open seat Tuesday, November 3, in a runoff between Nav Gurm and Ariana Martinez Lott after a June primary decided by about 20 votes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Voters in Fresno City Council District 7 will decide the open seat in a runoff election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The contest is the closest Fresno City Council race on the ballot, with Nav Gurm finishing first in the June primary without a majority.

Why it matters

The District 7 seat is open and the margin in the June primary was roughly 20 votes, making the outcome of this runoff a direct determinant of who represents the district. Fresno County officials expect the length of the ballot to slow tabulation on election night.

The June primary for District 7 was separated by about 20 votes, and the runoff ballot also carries 14 statewide propositions and two countywide measures. Election officials have not yet reported how many votes the runoff will produce.

The players

Nav Gurm

Gurm is a candidate in the Fresno City Council District 7 runoff who finished first in the June primary.

Ariana Martinez Lott

Martinez Lott is a community organizer and former staffer for Councilmember Miguel Arias who is competing in the District 7 runoff.

Fresno County

Fresno County runs the election and tabulation for the runoff and manages vote centers and official drop boxes.

The details

Nav Gurm, who launched his campaign in January 2025, cast his ballot Sunday at Melody Park and has been canvassing east central Fresno. Ariana Martinez Lott, a community organizer and former staffer for Councilmember Miguel Arias, is his opponent. Voters can return ballots at any Fresno County vote center or official county drop box, and vote centers reopen at 9 a.m. Monday.

January 2025: Gurm launched his District 7 campaign.
June 2026: The District 7 primary was held and separated by about 20 votes.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Gurm cast his ballot at Melody Park.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Vote centers reopen at 9 a.m.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election Day runoff for the District 7 seat.

Seasonal Patterns

The District 7 runoff follows the June 2026 primary, which was separated by about 20 votes and left no candidate with a majority, making this the closest Fresno City Council race on the ballot.

Voters in District 7 can return ballots at any Fresno County vote center or official county drop box before polls close on Tuesday. Vote centers reopen at 9 a.m. Monday, and officials warn that lines are likely on Election Day.

The takeaway

A margin of about 20 votes in the June primary shows how a single neighborhood race can turn on very few ballots, so voters who return ballots early help ensure their choice is counted.

What happens next

Election officials expect to release the first batch of results shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with final tabulation likely slowed by the long ballot.