Arambula Leads Thomas in Fresno District 3 Race

Early returns show Joaquin Arambula ahead of Keshia Thomas in the Fresno City Council District 3 general election.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Arambula Leads Thomas in Fresno District 3 Race

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Joaquin Arambula held a 55.99% share of the vote over Keshia Thomas's 44.01% as of 8 p.m. Tuesday, based on early results that included all early vote-by-mail and drop box ballots received through Saturday, October 31. The District 3 seat is being vacated by Miguel Arias, who is terming out and running for Fresno Unified School Board.

Why it matters

The result will determine who succeeds Arias on the Fresno City Council in the district covering southwest Fresno. Arambula is an emergency room physician and state assemblyman, while Thomas is a Fresno Unified trustee.

Early results from the general election show Arambula at 55.99% and Thomas at 44.01%, following a June primary in which Arambula took 29.99% and Thomas 27.60% in a seven-candidate field. Only the first round of counting is reported, with in-person votes still to be tallied and certification expected around Thanksgiving.

The players

Joaquin Arambula

Arambula is an emergency room physician and state assemblyman who has represented California State Assembly District 31 since 2016.

Keshia Thomas

Thomas is a Fresno Unified School District trustee who has served the district for 23 years.

Miguel Arias

Arias has held the Fresno City Council District 3 seat since 2019 and is terming out while running for the Fresno Unified School Board.

The details

The first round of results covered all early vote-by-mail and drop box ballots received through Saturday, October 31, with two or three further rounds of updates expected on election night, including in-person voting. Arambula has represented California State Assembly District 31 since 2016, while Arias has held the District 3 seat since 2019.

June 2026: Primary election narrowed the District 3 field of seven candidates to Arambula and Thomas.
Saturday, October 31, 2026: Cutoff for early vote-by-mail and drop box ballots included in first results.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: General election held; initial results show Arambula leading at 8 p.m.
Around Thanksgiving 2026: Final certified results targeted.

Season Trajectory

The District 3 race follows directly from the June primary, in which Arambula finished first with 29.99% and Thomas second with 27.60% of a seven-candidate field. The early general election returns, at 55.99% for Arambula, extend that lead into the general contest that will decide Arias's successor.

Residents of Fresno City Council District 3 will have a new representative on the council, and the outcome will shape local policy for the district's neighborhoods, including Downtown Fresno, Chinatown, and the Tower District. Voters should watch for later result rounds, since the early lead reflects only ballots counted in the first round.

The takeaway

Early leads can shift as later ballots are counted, so the outcome of this race will not be settled until final certified results arrive. Readers following local elections should check final certification rather than first-round totals.

What happens next

Additional rounds of results are expected on election night, and final certified results are targeted for around Thanksgiving, depending on Election Day turnout.