2026 Whittier City Council Race: Only One Candidate Has Raised Funds So Far
- Rebecca Canales
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
By Rebecca Canales – Whittier 360 News Network
As the 2026 Whittier municipal election season slowly takes shape, one surprising trend has emerged: Mayor Joe Vinatieri is the only candidate currently holding campaign funds. Neither of the two incumbent councilmembers up for re-election—Octavio Martinez (District 2) and Fernando Dutra (District 4)—nor any of their declared challengers have raised any money as of their most recent filings.
Who's on the Ballot in 2026?
Mayor Joe Vinatieri – running for re-election
Octavio Martinez – current Mayor Pro Tem, running for a second term in District 2
Fernando Dutra – long-serving councilmember, seeking re-election in District 4
Vicky Santana – announced challenger to Martinez in District 2.
Campaign Finance Snapshot
Candidate | Office Sought | Funds Raised (as of 12/31/24) | Notes |
Joe Vinatieri | Mayor | $31,472.92 | Transferred from 2024 account |
Octavio Martinez | District 2 | $0.00 | Has not yet begun fundraising |
Vicky Santana | District 2 | $0.00 | No contributions or expenses reported |
Fernando Dutra | District 4 | $0.00 | No new activity on file |
🔹 An Unusual Start to the Season
In past election cycles, Mayor Vinatieri typically began receiving contributions as early as January of the year before the election. His 2026 campaign launched late by his own standards—his first contribution wasn’t recorded until November 2024—and it came entirely from his prior campaign committee. Still, he remains the only declared candidate currently holding funds.
The absence of fundraising activity from Councilmembers Martinez and Dutra is notable. It may suggest uncertainty about their re-election intentions or a delayed campaign strategy. In Martinez’s case, some speculate his reluctance to begin fundraising may be due to ongoing city policy disputes or his focus on governance over campaign positioning.
Vicky Santana, despite naming longtime Whittier campaign treasurer Jeff Brauckmann (who also serves Vinatieri), has not reported any contributions or expenditures. Her appointment of Brauckmann, however, signals that she may be preparing to engage more fully in the race soon.
🔹 What This Means for Voters
With the filing period for candidates still months away, there’s plenty of time for the field to shift. But for now, it’s clear that most 2026 hopefuls are in pre-launch mode, quietly organizing before the campaign season kicks into full gear.
Whittier 360 will continue to monitor new filings as they become available and provide residents with nonpartisan, fact-based coverage of all candidate activity.
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