Gardena voters head to June 2 election as Mayor Tasha Cerda seeks reelection

By AI, Created 5:13 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Gardena voters will choose city leaders on June 2 in the 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election, with the mayor’s race among five open seats. Mayor Tasha Cerda is seeking reelection as the city prepares to weigh public safety, fiscal responsibility, services and neighborhood quality of life.

Why it matters: - Gardena’s June 2 election will shape the city’s next term of leadership across the mayor’s office, City Council, City Treasurer and City Clerk. - The race comes as residents focus on public safety, city services, economic development, fiscal responsibility and community programs. - Mayor Tasha Cerda is seeking another term after nearly a decade in the office, making the mayoral contest a key test of the city’s direction.

What happened: - Gardena will hold its 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2. - Five elected positions are on the ballot: Mayor, two City Council seats, City Treasurer and City Clerk. - Tasha Cerda is running for reelection as Mayor of Gardena. - Cerda was first elected mayor in March 2017 and re-elected in June 2022. - Her current term ends in June 2026.

The details: - Cerda served more than eight years as a Gardena City Council member before becoming mayor. - She also previously served as City Clerk. - The City of Gardena’s official profile identifies Cerda as the first female Mayor, first African American Mayor and first Native American Mayor in the State of California. - Cerda’s city profile says her record includes efforts tied to attracting housing and business development, securing grant money for projects, increasing city revenue and saving the city money. - Cerda serves as chairwoman of Gardena’s Finance Committee. - Her biography says she is involved in civic and community organizations. - Cerda represents Gardena on the Gardena Finance Committee, County of Los Angeles Sanitation District, California Cities Gaming Authority, Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, Los Angeles Metro Mayors Roundtable and as alternate city delegate to the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority. - The city says Cerda’s goal is to help Gardena remain a safe place to live, work, raise a family and retire. - Vote centers will be open at Rush Gymnasium, Rowley Park Gymnasium and Amestoy Elementary School. - Rush Gymnasium is open as an 11-day vote center from May 23, 2026, to June 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Rowley Park Gymnasium is open as a 4-day vote center from May 30, 2026, to June 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Amestoy Elementary School is open as a 4-day vote center from May 30, 2026, to June 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Vote-by-mail drop boxes are listed at Rowley Park Auditorium and Nakaoka Community Center. - Both drop boxes are open 24 hours from May 4, 2026, to June 2, 2026. - Los Angeles County says vote-by-mail ballots are being mailed to all registered voters for the June 2 election. - Voters can return ballots by mail, at an official ballot drop box or at a vote center.

Between the lines: - Cerda’s reelection bid is built around a long record in Gardena government and a profile centered on fiscal oversight, community engagement and neighborhood stability. - The city’s emphasis on official election resources reflects the importance of verifying vote-center hours, ballot-drop locations and registration status before Election Day. - The timing of the election puts local governance issues front and center at a moment when voters are being asked to assess both past performance and future priorities.

What’s next: - Gardena voters can use City of Gardena and Los Angeles County election resources for the latest voting details. - The City of Gardena directs voters to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for additional election information. - Voters can contact the Gardena City Clerk’s Office at 310-217-9565 with election-related questions. - Los Angeles County offers tools for registration, vote-by-mail information, ballot drop box locations, vote center locations, voter status, sample ballots and current election details. - The city’s election page is available at CityofGardena.org/electioninformation.

The bottom line: - Gardena’s June 2 election gives residents a direct say in the city’s leadership and sets the stage for the next phase of Mayor Tasha Cerda’s tenure if voters return her to office.