Voting for Healdsburg City Council seats is undergoing a change with the transition from an at-large election system to district-based elections. The change, required by a state law and approved under threat of legal action in 2025, affects how residents vote for council members and how representation is structured throughout the community.
Under the district election system, Healdsburg is divided into districts, and each district elects one council member who lives in and represents that area. The five districts—of nearly equal population—are designed to provide fair and equitable representation for all residents.
Previously, Healdsburg used an at-large election system, where all voters in the city could vote for every City Council seat on the ballot. With district elections, voters will only vote for the council member representing the district where they live.
The transition to district elections followed a challenge received by the city in October 2024 from a law firm alleging that the at-large election system violated the California Voting Rights Act. The challenge threatened litigation if the city did not voluntarily move to district-based elections. In response, the City Council conducted a public districting process that included multiple public hearings before adopting a final district map on April 21, 2025.
While Healdsburg voters are now limited to voting for candidates in their own district, residents are free to support candidates in other districts through campaign contributions, endorsements, volunteer activities or yard signs.
District elections will not affect a resident’s ability to vote on citywide or countywide ballot measures, county offices, state and federal races, and statewide propositions. Residents may still receive a ballot even if their district’s council seat is not on the ballot during that election cycle.
The first district-based City Council elections will occur November 2026, for Districts 2 and 4. Districts 1, 3 and 5 will hold their first district elections in November 2028. Current council members serving areas that correspond to Districts 1, 3 and 5 will continue as at-large council members until those elections occur.
District representation does not limit a council member’s responsibilities to a single neighborhood. Every council member, regardless of district, is responsible for governing the entire City of Healdsburg.
District boundaries may be adjusted in the future following each federal census to account for population changes and to ensure equal representation.
City Council terms are still four years in length. Eligible residents may run for office as often as they choose, provided they meet all legal qualifications and reside in the district they want to represent. In Healdsburg, the City Council selects one of its members to serve as mayor each year, typically for a one-year term.
Anyone living in District 2 or 4 who is interested in running for office, please contact City Clerk Raina Allan at ra****@********rg.gov, or by phone at 707.431.3316. The election filing period opens July 13 and closes Aug. 7.
To learn more about elections in Healdsburg, review frequently asked questions, or see the new districts, visit Healdsburg.gov/elections.
