Voters in Fresno City Council District 1 will have a last chance to evaluate the candidates as voting gets underway in the primary election.

GV Wire, in collaboration with the Community Media Access Collaborative, is hosting a District 1 candidates forum at 4 p.m. Monday.

GV Wire News Director Bill McEwen will moderate and pose questions to the four candidates vying to succeed Analisa Perea in the west-central Fresno district.

Participating in the forum are small business owner Monte Forkas, State Center Community College District Trustee and federal prosecutor Rob Fuentes, city of Fresno ADA Coordinator Joe Hinojosa, and Central Unified Trustee Naindeep Singh.

If any of the candidates receives 50% plus one of the June 2 primary vote total, he will win the election outright. In the more likely scenario, the top-two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November.

Debate Livestreamed on Facebook

The debate will be live-streamed on GV Wire’s Facebook page, allowing the public to tune in and hear directly from the candidates.

About District 1

Perea, who has served one term, chose to run for the state Assembly instead of standing for re-election.

District 1 is a diverse, heavily Democratic leaning area with about 40,000 registered voters. Its neighborhoods include parts of the Tower District, the Fresno High area, parts of Fig Garden, and areas west of Highway 99.

While it was once known as the “Fresno High” district, the redrawing of city council maps and growth west of Highway 99 have changed its demographics and political leanings over the past two decades. The district spans Fresno Unified and Central Unified school districts.

Key Voting Dates

— May 4, 2026: May 26, 2026: Mail ballots sent out

— May 4, 2026: First day of early voting at County Clerk’s Office, 2221 Kern St., downtown Fresno

— May 18, 2026: Close of registration for this election

— May 19, 2026 – June 2, 2026: Conditional voter registration period

— May 23, 2026 – June 2, 2026: Eleven-Day Vote Centers open through Election Day; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— May 30, 2026 – June 2, 2026: All Voter Centers open through Election Day; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— June 2, 2026: Election Day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

— June 9, 2026: Last day to receive vote-by-mail ballot postmarked no later than June 2, 2026