Council Brief
Santa Ana — council roster & voting records

Santa Ana City Council

Who sits on the Santa Ana city council, how long they've served, when each seat is next on the ballot — and how each member has actually voted, item by item, from the official record.

mixed · mayor: directly-elected · term limits: Councilmembers: maximum of three (3) four-year terms. Mayor: maximum of four (4) two-year terms. (Confirmed on santa-ana.org/elections.) · on the Nov 2026 ballot: Mayor (2-year term) and Councilmember Ward Seats 2, 4, and 6 (each 4-year term), on the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election ballot. (Confirmed on santa-ana.org/elections: 'the Mayor, for a term of two (2) years; and three (3) Councilmember Ward Seats (Ward Nos. 2, 4, and 6)'.)

Vote records digitized from 2024-01-16 to 2026-07-21 (52 meetings, 2,432 individual votes). Sources: official minutes and meeting records linked on every line.

Benjamin Vazquez

Benjamin Vazquez

Councilmember · Ward 2 · first elected 2022 · next on the ballot 2026
348 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 100% present · 24 dissents
David Penaloza

David Penaloza

Mayor Pro Tem · Ward 6 · first elected 2018 · next on the ballot 2026
347 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 96% present · 31 dissents
Jessie Lopez

Jessie Lopez

Councilmember · Ward 3 · first elected 2020 · next on the ballot 2028
348 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 95% present · 40 dissents
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Councilmember · Ward 5 · first elected 2020 · next on the ballot 2028
348 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 94% present · 34 dissents
Phil Bacerra

Phil Bacerra

Councilmember · Ward 4 · first elected 2019 · next on the ballot 2026
347 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 97% present · 26 dissents
Thai Viet Phan

Thai Viet Phan

Councilmember · Ward 1 · first elected 2020 · next on the ballot 2028
347 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 96% present · 10 dissents
Valerie Amezcua

Valerie Amezcua

Mayor · at-large (citywide) · first elected 2022 · next on the ballot 2026
347 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 99% present · 23 dissents

Recent divided votes

DateItemOutcomeVoted noSource
2026-07-21Santa Ana Police Department's Annual Military Equipment Use Report for 2025-265-2 passedJohnathan Ryan Hernandez, Benjamin Vazquezrecord
2026-07-07Agenda Item No. 5 - Appoint Giovanni Chavez to Rental Housing Board5-2 passedJohnathan Ryan Hernandez, Benjamin Vazquezrecord
2026-07-07Agenda Item No. 12 - Memorandum of Understanding with Republic Services5-1-1 passedJessie Lopezrecord
2026-07-07Agenda Item No. 19 - Density Bonus Agreement No. 2026-04 - SWC Alton & Raitt Residential Development6-1 passedPhil Bacerrarecord
2026-07-07Agenda Item No. 20 - Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-30975-2 passedJessie Lopez, David Penalozarecord
2026-07-07Agenda Item No. 22 - Ballot Measure to Remove Sunset on Local Sales Tax5-2 passedJessie Lopez, David Penalozarecord
2026-06-16Item No. 20, Dissolve Arts and Culture Commission and Other Commissions5-2 passedJessie Lopez, David Penalozarecord
2026-05-19Motion to limit public speaking time to one minute4-3 passedDavid Penalozarecord
2026-05-19moved to limit public speaking time to one minute, seconded by Councilmember Lopez. The motion carried, 4-3, by the following roil call vote4-2 passedJohnathan Ryan Hernandez, Benjamin Vazquezrecord
2026-05-05Agenda Item No. 24 - Resolution and Appropriation Adjustment Accepting Additional FY 2024 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program Funds5-1-1 passedJohnathan Ryan Hernandezrecord
2026-05-05the recommended action for Agenda Item No. 25, seconded by Councilmember Vazquez. The motion carried, 6-1, by the following roll call vote:5-1 passedPhil Bacerrarecord
2026-04-21Substitute Motion regarding Agenda Item No. 274-3 passedJohnathan Ryan Hernandez, Jessie Lopez, Benjamin Vazquezrecord
2026-04-21ority Meeting to the next meeting, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Penaloza. The substitute motion carried, 4-3, by the following roll call vote:4-2 passedJohnathan Ryan Hernandez, Jessie Lopezrecord
2026-03-17o approve the recommended action for Agenda Item No. 8, seconded by Mayor Amezcua. The motion carried, 5-2, by the following roil call vote:5-2 passedJessie Lopez, David Penalozarecord
2026-02-03Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System and Patrol Drone Purchase for the Police Department (Substi2-5 failedValerie Amezcuarecord

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