Many local seats lacking candidates as Shasta’s election filing deadline nears

Ahead of the 2026 general election which will occur in November, the deadline to file candidacy for open positions across Shasta County is approaching later this week. 

The period to file nomination documents began on July 13, and will close this Friday, August 7 at 5 p.m. The deadline will be extended through August 12 for all candidates in a race should an eligible incumbent fail to file by that period. 

As of last Friday, the majority of local races for school district boards and special district boards across the county still had fewer candidates than open seats, or no candidates at all. 

School district boards make executive decisions and act as a bridge between school administrators and community members in the county. Special district board members are responsible for governing special-purpose agencies that deliver specific services, often water or fire protection, within Shasta County. 

School districts with open seats, and not enough candidates to fill them as of July 31, included: Antelope Union, Bella Vista, Black Butte Union, Cascade Union (Area 3), Castle Rock Union, Columbia, Cottonwood Union, Dunsmuir Joint Union High, Enterprise (Area 4), Fall River Joint Unified, French Gulch-Whiskeytown, Gateway Unified (Area 3), Grant, Happy Valley, Igo-Ono-Platina, Junction, Millville, Newly Formed (Mountain Union/Whitmore), North Cow Creek, Oak Run, Red Bluff Joint Union High, Shasta-Tehama-Trinity College, Shasta Union High, Shasta Union Elementary, and Siskiyou County Board of Education (Area 1).

Special districts with open seats, which did not have enough candidates to fill them as of July 31, included: Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District (Divisions 1 and 2), Anderson Fire Protection District, Burney Fire Protection District, Burney Water District, Castella Fire Protection District, Centerville Community Services District, Clear Creek Community Services District, Cottonwood Fire Protection District, Cottonwood Water District, Fall River Valley Fire Protection District, Fall River Valley Community Services District, Happy Valley Fire Protection District, Igo-Ono Community Services District, Mayers Memorial Hospital District, Millville Fire Protection District, Mountain Gate Community Services District, Shasta Community Services District, Shasta Fire Protection District, and Shasta Lake Fire Protection District. 

Along with school and special districts, other local races on the ballot in Shasta this fall include a run-off between current Supervisor Chris Kelstrom and Anderson City Council member Mike Gallagher for the Shasta County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat. There are also seats open on all three city councils within the county. 

Shasta voters will decide races across the federal, state and local levels on Nov. 3. Here is the full list of open seats across jurisdictions, and a list of qualified candidates who had filed to run for office as of July 31. 

Qualifications for each jurisdiction and position are included in the California Election Codes. To file for candidacy, eligible applicants must contact Laura Hobbs at lhobbs@shastacounty.gov to schedule an appointment and file by Friday’s end-of-day deadline. 

August 4, 9:03 pm: We have updated the story to correct which board seat is open for election in the Enterprise Elementary School District.

Moe Shimizu is a student at Yale University. She’s reporting for Shasta Scout as a 2026 summer intern, with support from the Nonprofit Newsroom Internship Program — created by The Scripps Howard Fund and the Institute for Nonprofit News.

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