Topic
November 2026 Election
Four Newport Beach council seats and one General Plan Amendment measure are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This page compares the candidates side by side and summarizes the measure. It is preliminary and will change as more candidates file.
Newport Beach councilmembers must live in the district they represent, but every seat is voted on by the entire city. Every registered Newport Beach voter should review all four races below, not only the one for their home district.[2]
General Plan Amendment measure (ballot qualification under judicial review)
If the measure does appear on the ballot, it would amend the city’s General Plan Land Use Element to allow approximately 2,900 new affordable housing units across five areas of Newport Beach, at densities of 20–50 dwelling units per acre plus state-allowed density bonuses.[4]
| Area | Units |
|---|---|
| Dover / Westcliff | 174 |
| Newport Center | 870 |
| West Newport Mesa | 406 |
| Airport Area | 929 |
| Coyote Canyon | 521 |
Of the 2,900 units, 2,160 would be reserved for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households, and 740 for moderate-income households. The measure is also referred to as the Responsible Housing Initiative and was placed on the ballot through a voter initiative petition.[5]
This site does not take a position on the measure. Arguments for and against will be added here once official ballot arguments are filed.
Compare the candidates in each district
Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name within each district — never incumbent-first, and in no order implying a recommendation. Where no public position was found on an issue, the field reads “Not stated.”
District 1
2 candidates on file — listed alphabetically by last name.
Sandra Manich
Challenger- Civic Center Park police station site
- Not stated
- Responsible Housing Initiative
- Not stated
- Government transparency & process
- Not stated
- Short-term rentals
- Not stated
Joe Stapleton
Incumbent- Civic Center Park police station site
- Not stated
- Responsible Housing Initiative
- Not stated
- Government transparency & process
- Not stated
- Short-term rentals
- Not stated
Sandra Manich Challenger | Joe Stapleton Incumbent | |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Center Park police station site | Not stated | Not stated |
| Responsible Housing Initiative | Not stated | Not stated |
| Government transparency & process | Not stated | Not stated |
| Short-term rentals | Not stated | Not stated |
District 3
3 candidates on file — listed alphabetically by last name.
Walter Stahr
Challenger- Civic Center Park police station site
Opposed — campaign site states he will work to prevent the park from being developed, citing ‘better alternative sites.’[6]
STATED- Responsible Housing Initiative
- Not stated
- Government transparency & process
Co-author of the Sunshine Ordinance ballot initiative with the Newport Beach Stewardship Association.[7]
STATED- Short-term rentals
- Not stated
Tim Stoaks
Challenger- Civic Center Park police station site
- Not stated
- Responsible Housing Initiative
- Not stated
- Government transparency & process
- Not stated
- Short-term rentals
- Not stated
Erik Weigand
Incumbent- Civic Center Park police station site
Supports — has stated that keeping the department headquartered in and around Newport Center is important following incidents at Fashion Island.[10]
STATED- Responsible Housing Initiative
- Not stated
- Government transparency & process
- CONFIRMED On November 4, 2025, voted in favor of a substitute motion removing public members from the proposed Police Headquarters advisory body and creating a council-only Ad Hoc Committee instead, eliminating the Brown Act public-meeting requirement for that process. See the Police Headquarters page for full context. [9]REPORTED At the March 10, 2026 City Council study session on police headquarters site selection, residents raised concerns about the transparency of the process. Weigand responded that nothing “nefarious” went on behind closed doors. See the Police Headquarters page for full context. [10]
- Short-term rentals
- Not stated
Walter Stahr Challenger | Tim Stoaks Challenger | Erik Weigand Incumbent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Center Park police station site | Opposed — campaign site states he will work to prevent the park from being developed, citing ‘better alternative sites.’[6] STATED | Not stated | Supports — has stated that keeping the department headquartered in and around Newport Center is important following incidents at Fashion Island.[10] STATED |
| Responsible Housing Initiative | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Government transparency & process | Co-author of the Sunshine Ordinance ballot initiative with the Newport Beach Stewardship Association.[7] STATED | Not stated | CONFIRMED On November 4, 2025, voted in favor of a substitute motion removing public members from the proposed Police Headquarters advisory body and creating a council-only Ad Hoc Committee instead, eliminating the Brown Act public-meeting requirement for that process. See the Police Headquarters page for full context. [9] REPORTED At the March 10, 2026 City Council study session on police headquarters site selection, residents raised concerns about the transparency of the process. Weigand responded that nothing “nefarious” went on behind closed doors. See the Police Headquarters page for full context. [10] |
| Short-term rentals | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
District 4
1 candidate on file — listed alphabetically by last name.
Robyn Grant
Incumbent- Civic Center Park police station site
See Government transparency & process — her position does not reduce to a simple for/against; see the Police Headquarters page for full detail.
- Responsible Housing Initiative
- Not stated
- Government transparency & process
- Cast the sole vote in favor of a fully public, transparent site-selection process from the start (every other councilmember voted against it). Also stated support for evaluating the Civic Center Park concept further while asking for more details, and separately cited litigation/delay risk tied to the 2007 ballot measure as a reason for caution. Read together, her record shows a consistent push for more transparency and more information before commitment, rather than a fixed position for or against the site itself.[9]CONFIRMED On November 4, 2025, Grant cast the sole dissenting vote against that same substitute motion. See the Police Headquarters page for full context. [9]
- Short-term rentals
- Not stated
Robyn Grant Incumbent | |
|---|---|
| Civic Center Park police station site | See Government transparency & process — her position does not reduce to a simple for/against; see the Police Headquarters page for full detail. |
| Responsible Housing Initiative | Not stated |
| Government transparency & process | Cast the sole vote in favor of a fully public, transparent site-selection process from the start (every other councilmember voted against it). Also stated support for evaluating the Civic Center Park concept further while asking for more details, and separately cited litigation/delay risk tied to the 2007 ballot measure as a reason for caution. Read together, her record shows a consistent push for more transparency and more information before commitment, rather than a fixed position for or against the site itself.[9] CONFIRMED On November 4, 2025, Grant cast the sole dissenting vote against that same substitute motion. See the Police Headquarters page for full context. [9] |
| Short-term rentals | Not stated |
District 6
2 candidates on file — listed alphabetically by last name.
Andy Gerken
Challenger- Civic Center Park police station site
Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing.
- Responsible Housing Initiative
Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing.
- Government transparency & process
Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing.
- Short-term rentals
Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing.
Lauren Kleiman
Incumbent- Civic Center Park police station site
- Not stated
- Responsible Housing Initiative
- Not stated
- Government transparency & process
- Not stated
- Short-term rentals
- Not stated
Andy Gerken Challenger | Lauren Kleiman Incumbent | |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Center Park police station site | Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing. | Not stated |
| Responsible Housing Initiative | Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing. | Not stated |
| Government transparency & process | Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing. | Not stated |
| Short-term rentals | Not stated — no specific policy positions found on his campaign site as of this writing. | Not stated |
Preliminary field, at a glance
| District | Incumbent | Challenger(s) |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Joe Stapleton | Sandra Manich |
| District 3 | Erik Weigand | Walter Stahr; Tim Stoaks |
| District 4 | Robyn Grant (filed for reelection) | None on file yet |
| District 6 | Lauren Kleiman | Andy Gerken |
Nomination period is open through August 7, 2026; this list reflects filings with the City Clerk as of July 13, 2026. Additional candidates may still file before the deadline. [11]
This table reflects candidates known to have filed or announced as of the last-updated date. It is preliminary and will change until filing closes August 7, 2026.[1]
Notes & Sources
Numbered references for the claims above. Numbering restarts on each page.
- [1]
Ballotpedia — Newport Beach, California elections
The seats up for election in November 2026 (Districts 1, 3, 4, and 6) and the current incumbents.
ballotpedia.org/Newport_Beach,_California - [2]
Newport Beach City Charter
The rule that councilmembers must live in their district but every seat is elected citywide.
www.codepublishing.com/CA/NewportBeach/ - [3]
Orange County Registrar of Voters — candidate filing
The August 7, 2026 candidate filing deadline; the field is preliminary until then.
ocvote.gov/ - [4]
City of Newport Beach — Municipal Elections
The November 3, 2026 election includes a General Plan Amendment measure allowing 2,900 new affordable housing units in five areas of the city.
newportbeachca.gov/government/municipal-elections - [5]
Voice of OC — Newport Beach Voters to Decide on New Housing Plan
Background on the Responsible Housing Initiative petition, the Greenlight Initiative context, and council discussion of the measure.
voiceofoc.org/2025/11/newport-beach-housing-vote/ - [6]
Walter Stahr for City Council — campaign website
Walter Stahr's publicly stated position on the Civic Center Park police site.
www.walterstahr.com/ - [7]
Newport Beach Stewardship Association — Sunshine Ordinance ballot initiative
Walter Stahr's co-authorship of the Sunshine Ordinance ballot initiative with the Newport Beach Stewardship Association.
www.nbstewardship.org/ - [8]
City of Newport Beach — news release (June 25, 2026)
The City's June 25, 2026 filing for judicial review challenging whether the Responsible Housing Initiative / General Plan Amendment measure met California Election Code procedural requirements before qualifying for the November 2026 ballot, and City Attorney Aaron Harp's statement that the filing is not about the merits of the initiative.
www.newportbeachca.gov/ - [9]
City of Newport Beach — March 10, 2026 City Council Planning Session, Item No. 2 (Public Works Department staff presentation)
On November 4, 2025, the City Council created the Newport Beach Police Headquarters Assessment Committee (Blom, Weber, Barto); Erik Weigand voted in favor of the substitute motion, and Robyn Grant cast the sole dissenting vote.
newportbeach.legistar.com/ - [10]
Voice of OC — Newport Beach Police Station coverage (March 2026)
Residents raised concerns about the transparency of the police headquarters site-selection process at the March 10, 2026 City Council study session, and Councilmember Erik Weigand's response that nothing 'nefarious' went on behind closed doors.
voiceofoc.org/2026/03/newport-beach-police-station/ - [11]
City of Newport Beach — City Clerk nomination records (as of July 13, 2026)
Candidate nomination filings for the November 3, 2026 City Council election: Sandra Manich (D1 challenger), Tim Stoaks (D3 challenger, in addition to Walter Stahr), and confirmation that incumbent Robyn Grant (D4) has filed for reelection. Nomination period opened July 13, 2026 and closes August 7, 2026.
www.newportbeachca.gov/government/departments/city-clerk/elections