Cuatro carreras del Consejo de la Ciudad de El Paso se realizarán en la boleta de noviembre

Four El Paso City Council incumbents will face challengers in the Nov. 3 general election, according to El Paso Matters. Races are scheduled in Districts 1, 5, 6 and 8 following Monday's filing deadline.

The four council members whose four-year terms expire Dec. 31 are Chris Canales in District 8, Alejandra Chávez in District 1, Art Fierro in District 6 and Ivan Niño in District 5. Chávez and Niño were elected in December 2024 to fill unexpired terms vacated by former City Reps. Brian Kennedy and Isabel Salcido, both of whom resigned to run for mayor.

Winners will inherit significant financial pressures, including decisions on how to pay for rising city costs, expand the commercial tax base to reduce homeowner tax burdens, and absorb millions in additional spending from new police union contracts. The council will also contend with the aftermath of contentious actions at City Hall, including the controversial Meta data center incentive agreement and the expected adoption Tuesday of the voter-approval tax rate—the highest rate the city can approve without an election.

In District 1, Chávez faces three challengers: Sam Armijo, a former District 1 candidate and nuclear power consultant; Matthew James Kozic, a criminal defense attorney and political newcomer; and Daniela Garcia, an administrative assistant. District 5 incumbent Niño faces Jacqueline Horn, a homemaker and political newcomer; and Richard Genera, a former District 5 candidate and bank teller.

District 6 incumbent Fierro, a former state legislator, competes against Claudia Contreras Siller, a care provider; Pedro Fernandez Jr., an independent delivery contractor; Jesus Moreno, a legislative aide for City Rep. Deanna Maldonado-Rocha; and Hector Omar Alva, a photographer. In District 8, Canales, a former chief of staff for former City Rep. Cissy Lizarraga, faces five challengers: Arturo Alluin, a restaurant owner and political newcomer; Laura Ochoa-Todd, retired from business and real estate; Johnny J. Gonzalez, retired; Matthew Guzman, executive director of the Mary L. Peyton Foundation; and others.

Voters must register by Oct. 5. Early voting runs Oct. 19-30, with mail-in ballot applications due Oct. 23. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent on Nov. 3, runoffs will occur in December. Winners take office in January for four-year terms and earn $72,800 annually. Districts 2, 3, 4, 7 and the mayor's seat will be on the ballot in November 2028.