Your voice. Your vote. Our community's future.

Candidates running for public office are applying for a job. Forums are like job interviews, and the voters are hiring. Who would hire an employee without interviewing them first?

The League of Women Voters has a long history of conducting candidate forums. We work to provide a platform for voters to learn about who and what will be on their ballot.  Candidate forums give you the chance to hear directly from the people asking for your vote.

​This is a candidate forum, not a debate. Candidates will answer questions about their vision, priorities, and plans for their District.  There's an opportunity to submit your questions. Due to time constraints, only some questions can be answered.

2026  Candidate Forums:

October 12, 2026  Guadalupe Candidate Forum: Mayoral & Council

October 12, 2026  Foro de candidatos a la alcaldía y al Concejo Municipal de Guadalupe

October 7, 2026  School Board Candidate Forum for Santa Maria Union HS and Santa Maria Bonita School District

October 7, 2026  Foro de candidatos a la Junta Escolar para Santa Maria Union HS y SMBSD

October 1, 2026  Santa Maria City Council Candidate Forum

October 1, 2026  Foro de Candidatos al Ayuntamiento de Santa Maria

October 1, 2026  Santa Barbara County 5th District Supervisor Forum

October 1, 2026  Foro de Supervisores del 5° Distrito del Condado de Santa Bárbara

May 18, 2026  SBCty District 5 Supervisor Candidate Forum - held in Santa Maria

May 21, 2026  SBCty District 5 Supervisor Candidate Forum - held in Guadalupe

April 29, 2026  California's State Assembly District 37 Candidate Forum