Ackland Leads Springfield Ward 4 Council Race

Early returns show Callee Ackland ahead of interim councilor Jill Cuadros in the nonpartisan Ward 4 contest.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Ackland Leads Springfield Ward 4 Council Race

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Callee Ackland held 56.8% of the vote against Jill Cuadros's 45.5% as of 8 p.m. on election day in the Springfield City Council Ward 4 race. The winner will complete the term of Beth Blackwell, which runs through 2028.

Why it matters

The seat opened when Blackwell stepped down at the end of December, and it is the only Springfield City Council seat on the ballot this cycle. The outcome determines who represents Ward 4 for the remainder of the term.

Early election-night returns put Ackland at 56.8% and Cuadros at 45.5%, while Cuadros outraised Ackland $41,933 to $37,171 through election day. The final tally and certified result remain pending.

The players

Callee Ackland

Ackland is a tenant support specialist at the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association and serves on the Springfield Planning Commission.

Jill Cuadros

Cuadros is a support services director at Eugene School District 4J and the interim Ward 4 councilor appointed by the City Council in April.

Beth Blackwell

Blackwell held the Ward 4 seat on the Springfield City Council until she stepped down at the end of December.

The details

Ackland, a tenant support specialist at the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association and a member of the Springfield Planning Commission, faces Cuadros, support services director at Eugene School District 4J. Cuadros was appointed by the City Council in April to serve as interim Ward 4 councilor through the end of the year, after a campaign sign dispute between the candidates last month.

End of December: Beth Blackwell steps down from the Ward 4 seat.
April: City Council appoints Jill Cuadros as interim councilor.
Last month: Candidates disagree over a campaign sign incident.
November 3: Ward 4 election held and early results counted.
2028: Term that the winner will complete ends.

Political Context

The race follows the Springfield City Council's practice of appointing an interim member to fill a mid-term vacancy and then holding a regular election for the seat. Cuadros's appointment in April made her the incumbent in practice, so the outcome will show whether appointed officials can win a full term.

Springfield residents in Ward 4 will be represented by whichever candidate wins, and that councilor will complete Blackwell's term through 2028. Votes counted after election night may change the early margin.

The takeaway

Local council seats filled by appointment can become competitive open races, and the Ward 4 outcome will show how voters in Springfield weigh an appointed incumbent against a challenger with community-sector experience.