An attorney with the state's largest law firm and a developer helped by her venture-capitalist father are ahead in campaign cash among eight candidates seeking an open council seat in central Phoenix.
Several other District 4 candidates have collected tens of thousands of dollars from donors, while one candidate hasn't yet filed any campaign finance reports. The district includes downtown, midtown and part of Maryvale.
Each in the diverse mix hopes to win the district's soon-to-be open seat and become the successor to veteran council member Laura Pastor, who was first elected in 2013 and is now term-limited. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, a runoff between the top two vote-getters would take place on March 9.
Voters in the city's Districts 2, 6 and 8 will also see council candidates on their Nov. 3 ballots. Early voting began Oct. 7.
Running for office in the competitive District 4 race are Ed Hermes, Ashley Harder, Robb Olivieri, Michael Mazzocco, Megan Schmitz, Patricia Jimenez, Zachary Lauer and Cassandra Hernandez.
Quick Race Highlights
- • Election Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- • Certified Candidates: 7 candidates certified by City Clerk (Patricia Jimenez certified first on 06/25/2026)
- • Key Issues: Clean Alleys & 311 Response, Public Safety, Affordable Housing, Heat Relief
