Race to fill Fresno City Council seat representing downtown draws several candidates
Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias will term out by the end of the year, leaving his District 3 seat open in the 2026 primary election.
The district covers the southwest areas of Fresno, including downtown, Chinatown, the Tower District, and neighborhoods like Edison and Lowell. It also includes most of the city’s industrial parks in south Fresno.
The primary election will take place on June 2. Fresno City Council District 1, District 5 and District 7 seats will also be on the ballot, as well as two Fresno County Supervisor seats.
The filing window for candidates seeking office in 2026 is open now through March 6 at 5 p.m. To secure a seat, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote in the primary election. If no one gets a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Here’s a look at who is considering running for the Fresno City Council District 3 seat in the 2026 primary election.
Fresno City Council District 3 candidates
Fernando Alvarez was elected as a Fresno County School Board Trustee in 2022 at 21-years-old. Now, he has intentions of running for the District 3 Fresno City Council seat.
“District 3 has incredible potential, but it needs leadership that believes in its people,” Alvarez said in a statement to The Bee.
He has also served as Government Affairs Specialist at the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and helped design and relaunch the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurship Program.
“I’m running to revitalize downtown and our neighborhoods, support small businesses, and make sure the community has a real voice in shaping Fresno’s future,” he said.
Larry Burrus, a real estate broker and contractor, has filed papers to join the race for the District 3 seat.
Burrus ran for the position twice before. The first was in June 2018, when he received about 12% of the vote, and the second was in 2022, when he received about 27.9% of the vote, losing to Arias.
“I am seeking to represent our community at City Hall in order to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and to serve as a effective advocate,” his X bio says.
Fresno Board of Education Trustee, Keshia Thomas, intends to run for the District 3 seat.
“My priorities are simple: safe neighborhoods, good jobs, affordable housing, and being your representative City Hall that listens and is accessible. I will continue to fight every day to make sure District 3 families aren’t left behind,” she said in a statement to The Bee.
Thomas also serves as Assistant Director of the Homeless Ministry through the Women’s Missionary Union and Assistant Director of Children’s Church at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.
She began her education career at a local charter school, teaching algebra and geometry, and later joined Fresno Unified as a 7th–8th-grade math teacher.
“What inspires me most are my children and my students. They are my daily motivation to work harder, lead with integrity, and strive for excellence as a lifelong learner, educator, and now as a candidate for public office.”
Assemblymember and emergency room physician, Joaquin Arambula, has filed to run for Fresno City Council District 3.
He is a Democrat representing the 31st Assembly District, which encompasses southern and western Fresno County, including the cities of Sanger, Reedley, Orange Cove, and the west side of Fresno.
He is the chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and the author of Assembly Bill 4, known as the “Health4All” bill, which seeks to expand full scope Medi-Cal coverage regardless of immigration status.
Attempts to reach Arambula by The Bee were unsuccessful.
Tower resident Aaron Hightower, who has spoken out at many City Council meetings, has pulled papers to enter the race. A resident by the name of Charles Montoya has also filed paperwork for the District 3 seat.
Attempts to reach them by The Bee were unsuccessful.