Redding Council Faces Three-Seat Election
Nine candidates are competing for three Redding City Council seats on the November 3, 2026 ballot amid a projected budget shortfall.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Three seats on the Redding City Council are up for election on November 3, 2026, with incumbents Tenessa Audette and Jack Munns seeking second terms. Nine candidates are on the ballot.
Why it matters
The council faces a budget deficit projected to exceed $10 million in about two years, and recent cuts to vacant police and fire positions passed on a split 3-2 vote. The outcome will shape how the city responds to that shortfall.
The November 3, 2026 general election covers three of the council's seats, and the 3-2 cut vote passed with Mayor Mike Littau, Pau Dhanuka and Jack Munns in favor. The source does not say how the new council will address the projected deficit beyond the position cuts already approved.
The players
Redding City Council
The five-member governing body of Redding, California, responsible for the city's budget and municipal policy.
Tenessa Audette
A sitting Redding City Council member who voted against the position cuts and is seeking a second term.
Jack Munns
A sitting Redding City Council member who voted for the position cuts and is seeking a second term.
Erin Resner
A Redding City Council member who voted against the cuts and won the June primary for the District 1 Shasta County Board of Supervisors seat.
The details
Incumbents Tenessa Audette and Jack Munns are seeking a second term, and Councilwoman Erin Resner won the June primary for the District 1 Shasta County Board of Supervisors seat over incumbent Kevin Crye. Audette and Resner voted against the cuts, which were meant to save $2.4 million and add $935,000 to the general fund reserve.
Timeline
June: Erin Resner defeated Kevin Crye in the primary for the District 1 Shasta County Board of Supervisors seat.
Two weeks before November 3, 2026: The council voted 3-2 to cut 13.5 vacant police and nine vacant fire positions.
November 3, 2026: General election for three Redding City Council seats.
About two years after November 2026: The projected budget deficit is expected to exceed $10 million.
Political Context
Two council members who opposed the position cuts are on the ballot, and the outcome could shift the council's majority on how to close a deficit projected to exceed $10 million. The source does not detail the opposition's specific counter-proposals beyond voting against the cuts.
Redding residents will choose three council members on November 3, 2026, and those members will shape decisions on spending and staffing. The projected budget gap could affect city services in the years ahead.
The takeaway
Voters in Redding have a direct say in how the city closes its projected budget gap, so reviewing where each candidate stands on the cuts and the deficit before November 3 can help inform that choice.
Further reading
Read more about Elections coverage in Redding.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Redding Record Searchlight.
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