Daniel Muñoz Will Seek Salinas Mayoral Seat

The mayoral candidate is campaigning on a platform centered on rent protections and city council reform.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stylized municipal facade in navy, cream, and red, representing the civic nature of local political discourse. — Mayoral candidate Daniel Muñoz launched his 2026 campaign in Salinas, focusing on restoring rent stabilization measures and advocating for city council reform. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government prioritize stricter rent stabilization and tenant protection policies?

Mayoral candidate Daniel Muñoz will compete in the November 2026 election, campaigning against the Salinas City Council's repeal of local rent stabilization. His platform challenges current city leadership while addressing housing policy and tenant advocacy.

Why it matters

The campaign highlights significant public disagreement over tenant protections and the city's responsiveness to landlords. Voters must now decide whether to restore rent stabilization through the upcoming ballot measure.

Measure H proposes restoring rent protections and establishing new anti-harassment policies for tenants. Additionally, mayoral candidate Daniel Muñoz proposes increasing city council public comment periods to 3 minutes.

The players

Daniel Muñoz

He is a candidate for mayor of Salinas who has criticized city leadership for being overly responsive to property investors.

Jose Luis Barajas

He is a current Salinas city councilmember who has faced calls for recall from mayoral candidate Daniel Muñoz.

Protect Salinas Renters

This local advocacy group organized the signature collection effort to bring Measure H to the November ballot.

The details

Daniel Muñoz launched his campaign in opposition to the Salinas City Council's 2025 repeal of rent stabilization ordinances. The Protect Salinas Renters group successfully secured signatures to place Measure H on the ballot, which also includes protections against tenant harassment.

Early 2025: The Salinas City Council repealed rent stabilization ordinances.
October 7, 2026: The League of Women Voters hosted a mayoral candidate forum.
November 2026: Salinas voters will cast their ballots for Measure H and the mayoral race.

Political Context

The opposition to Daniel Muñoz's platform stems from local stakeholders who supported the city council's original repeal of rent stabilization. These dissenting voices argue that the 2025 repeal was a necessary step for economic stability and property owner rights within the city.

Residents of Salinas will see direct changes to their housing security and legal rights depending on the outcome of Measure H. Additionally, voters can expect potential procedural changes at future council meetings if the candidate's proposal to extend comment periods is adopted.

The takeaway

The upcoming election serves as a referendum on the city's housing policies and council priorities. Residents should review the specific language of the rent protection proposal before heading to the polls in November.