Napa's District 3 race between Councilmember Mary Luros and challenger Jim Hinton is the only contested City Council race in Napa this fall. In District 1, Christopher DeNatale has no opponent.

Why it matters: Napa switched to district elections in 2020. The winner will help decide how the city plans for 2,669 new homes under its state housing target and how it handles traffic cameras, hotels and city fees.

Mary Luros

  • A lawyer, Luros was appointed to the council in 2015. She won an at-large seat in 2018 and ran unopposed in 2022.
  • Her priorities are housing, including the 2,669-unit housing target, fixing infrastructure, and an aquatics center at the former Harvest Middle School site.

Jim Hinton

  • A lifelong Napa resident, Hinton ran for council in 2018 and 2020.
  • He wants to remove the city's Flock license-plate cameras and red-light cameras and to pause new hotels.
  • He also wants to bring back community events such as Porchfest and the Chefs' Market, and to cut city fees.

How to vote

Ballots were mailed starting Oct. 5. They must be postmarked or dropped off by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Find more races in our 2026 Bay Area election guide.

Sources: The Press Democrat and the City of Napa.