Seven Candidates Vie for Corpus Christi Mayor

Voters in Corpus Christi head to the polls Tuesday to choose a new mayor from seven candidates.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a low municipal building facade with a flagpole against a pale sky, evoking civic election day. — Seven candidates are competing Tuesday in Corpus Christi's mayoral election, with incumbent Mayor Paulette Guajardo seeking a fourth and final term. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think Corpus Christi is heading in the right direction on water?

Seven candidates are competing in Tuesday's mayoral election in Corpus Christi, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Incumbent Mayor Paulette Guajardo is seeking her fourth and final term.

Why it matters

The election will determine who leads Corpus Christi's city government and sets policy priorities for the city's residents. Candidates have put forward competing agendas on water supply, government accountability and local representation.

Seven candidates are running for a single mayoral seat, with polls open Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The extraction does not include vote totals or polling figures, so the competitive standing of each candidate remains unclear.

The players

Paulette Guajardo

Paulette Guajardo is the incumbent mayor of Corpus Christi seeking a fourth and final term in office.

John Calkusic

John Calkusic is a mayoral candidate whose platform centers on expanding Lake Texana and cloud seeding to address the city's water supply.

The details

Candidates addressed voters at the South Texas Alliance of Republicans luncheon, with businessman David Ainsworth and others outlining their platforms. John Calkusic pitched plans to expand Lake Texana and pursue cloud seeding at Moore Plaza, while Chelise Hyatt has pledged not to accept contributions from industry or campaign parties and campaigns mainly through social media videos.

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Election Day, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Need to Know

Incumbent Mayor Paulette Guajardo seeks a fourth and final term, a limit that frames the open succession question in this race. The extraction does not describe prior elections or policy precedents, so this context is kept brief.

Corpus Christi voters choose the next mayor Tuesday, and the outcome will shape who sets city priorities for the coming term. Residents should confirm polling locations and hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. before heading to the polls.

The takeaway

Voters in Corpus Christi have a clear choice among seven candidates with differing platforms on water supply, accountability and representation. Checking candidate positions directly before Tuesday can help voters decide which priorities matter most to them.