SONOMA VALLEY, CA — The candidate filing deadline for dozens of local elected offices has been extended after eligible incumbents declined to seek reelection.
Candidates now have until close of business Wednesday, Aug. 12, to file nomination papers for affected races on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot, Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Evelyn Mendez announced today. The original nomination deadline was Aug. 7.
California election rules allow the filing period to be extended when an incumbent who is eligible to seek reelection does not file by the regular deadline.
The extension applies to numerous school boards, city and town councils, and special district boards across Sonoma County.
School offices with extended nomination periods include:
County Board of Education
• Sonoma County Board of Education, Trustee Area 2 (Southwest County)
Unified school district governing boards
• Calistoga Joint Unified School District
• Cloverdale Unified School District
• Windsor Unified School District
High school district governing boards
• Petaluma City (Elementary) and Petaluma Joint Union High School Districts, Trustee Areas 2, 3, and 5
• Point Arena Joint Union High/Arena Union School Districts
• West Sonoma County Union High School District, Trustee Areas 1 and 3
Elementary school district governing boards
• Bennett Valley Union School District
• Cinnabar School District
• Forestville Union School District
• Fort Ross School District
• Guerneville School District
• Harmony Union School District
• Horicon School District
• Laguna Joint School District
• Mark West Union School District
• Monte Rio Union School District
• Old Adobe Union School District
• Piner-Olivet Union School District
• Roseland School District
• Waugh School District
• West Side Union School District
• Wilmar Union School District
• Wright School District
The extension also applies to five municipal races:
• Cloverdale City Council
• Cotati City Council
• Santa Rosa City Council, District 4
• Sebastopol City Council
• Windsor Town Council, District 1
Several special district races also remain open for candidates.
Community services districts
• Graton Community Services District
Fire protection districts
• North Sonoma Coast Fire Protection District
• Schell-Vista Fire Protection District
Health care districts
• North Sonoma County Healthcare District
• Sonoma Valley Health Care District
Life support districts
• Coast Life Support District
Water districts
• Rains Creek/Hiatt Road County Water District
Several affected jurisdictions cross county lines, including the Calistoga Joint Unified, Laguna Joint, Point Arena Joint Union High/Arena Union, Petaluma school, and Coast Life Support districts.
Candidates registered to vote in Sonoma County who seek office in one of those jurisdictions and want to file an optional Statement of Qualifications for another county's Voter Information Guide should contact that county's elections office.
Marin County Elections Department can be reached at 415-473-6437 or elections@marincounty.gov.
Mendocino County Elections Division can be reached at 707-234-6819 or mcvotes@mendocinocounty.gov.
Napa County Elections Department can be reached at 707-253-4321 or elections@countyofnapa.org.
Eligible candidates seeking a school or special district office during the extension must obtain and file nomination papers in person at the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office before close of business Wednesday.
The elections office recently moved and is now at 3880 Brickway Blvd. in Santa Rosa.
Prospective candidates can find additional information at SoCoVotes.com by selecting the Local Candidate Guide/Calendar of Events under the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election section.
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