Luros Leads Hinton in Napa District 3 Race

Early unofficial returns show incumbent Mary Luros with a wide lead over challenger Jim Hinton in the city's only competitive council race.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in City Hall

Luros Leads Hinton in Napa District 3 Race

Napa City Councilmember Mary Luros led challenger Jim Hinton in early unofficial results for the District 3 seat, released by the Napa County registrar's office after 8 p.m. on November 3. The count reflected 19% of the possible vote, with Luros at 70% and Hinton at 29%.

Why it matters

The District 3 contest is the only competitive city council race in Napa this cycle, so the outcome will determine who represents much of the city's eastern area. Napa moved to district-based council elections in 2020, making this race a direct test of the district system's local representation.

Early unofficial results show Mary Luros at 70% and Jim Hinton at 29% after 19% of the possible vote was tallied. The final outcome and certified margin are not yet known, as later returns could shift the result.

The players

Mary Luros

Mary Luros is a Napa City Councilmember and local lawyer who has served on the council since her 2015 appointment.

Jim Hinton

Jim Hinton is a lifelong Napa resident and challenger who previously ran unsuccessfully for council in 2018 and 2020.

Napa County Registrar's Office

The Napa County Registrar's Office is the county agency that administers elections and released the early unofficial results.

The details

The initial results were released by the Napa County registrar's office shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. Luros, a local lawyer who has lived in Napa since 2008, was first appointed to the council in 2015 and won an at-large seat in 2018. Hinton is a lifelong Napa resident who lost council bids in 2018 and 2020.

2015: Mary Luros is first appointed to the Napa City Council.
2018: Luros wins an at-large council seat; Hinton is an unsuccessful candidate.
2020: Napa shifts to district-based council elections.
2022: Luros runs unopposed for the District 3 seat.
November 3, 2026: Early unofficial election results are released.

Political Context

The District 3 race is the first competitive contest the city has held since moving to district-based elections in 2020, when council seats began being tied to geographic areas rather than citywide votes. Because the only other race, in District 1, drew no challenger, this single contest carries the weight of testing how district representation plays out in practice.

The outcome determines which council member represents District 3 residents on local decisions, from land use to city budgets. Voters in the district should watch for the certified final count, since the early tally reflects only 19% of possible votes.

The takeaway

Early returns can shift as more ballots are counted, so the District 3 result should be treated as provisional until the county certifies final totals. Residents who want to know who will represent their area should wait for the official count.