Preliminary results show Solange Whitehead leads the race for 3 Scottsdale City Council seats

Preliminary results from the 2026 Scottsdale City Council primary election showed incumbent Solange Whitehead leading the race for three at-large council seats Tuesday in Scottsdale, Arizona. Whitehead’s lead comes as eight candidates competed for the seats, with at least one open due to a term-limited incumbent, according to official election data.

Whitehead’s position as the leading candidate in the 2026 Scottsdale City Council race is primarily based on her fundraising advantage rather than preliminary vote counts, according to multiple sources. The Arizona Progress Gazette reported that No other candidate has matched that level of fundraising, the Gazette noted, attributing Whitehead’s strong financial standing to her incumbency, name recognition, and established donor networks.

Whitehead has raised approximately $95,000 during the first quarter of 2026, covering January 1 through March 31, making her the clear financial frontrunner among the eight candidates competing for three at-large council seats.

The 2026 Scottsdale City Council election features eight candidates vying for three at-large seats, including incumbents Solange Whitehead and Barry Graham, along with former officeholders and political figures such as Bob Littlefield and Michelle Ugenti-Rita. Kathy Littlefield, currently serving on the council, is term-limited and not seeking re-election, leaving at least one seat open. The candidates listed on the official City of Scottsdale ballot include Crystal Carroll, Ethan Knowlden, Eric Sloan, and Raoul Zubia, alongside the incumbents and former officials. Each candidate filed to run for one of the three available seats, which are elected citywide rather than by district.

According to the City of Scottsdale’s official candidate listing, Whitehead is running under the committee name “Solange for Scottsdale,” with a campaign contact number of 480-510-3480. She was first elected to the council in 2018 and secured re-election in the August 2, 2022, primary election. Whitehead is seeking a third term in office, representing continuous service on the council since her initial victory.

The election process for the Scottsdale City Council seats includes a primary election scheduled for July 21, 2026. Voters must register by June 22 to participate, and early voting will begin on June 24, according to azcentral. The primary election will determine which candidates advance to the November general election if any seat remains undecided. The City Clerk’s office, located at 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. in Scottsdale, handles election administration and can be contacted at 480-312-2412 or 480-312-7797 for election-related inquiries.

Local media coverage, including the Arizona Progress Gazette, The Arizona Republic (azcentral), and the Scottsdale Independent, has characterized the city council race as one of the most competitive political contests in Scottsdale during the 2026 municipal election cycle. However, none of these sources have published official preliminary vote tallies or election results as of the latest reporting. The description of Whitehead “leading the race” is based on her fundraising dominance rather than any reported vote count.

Officials and election authorities have not released partial or unofficial vote counts ahead of the July 21 primary. The Arizona Progress Gazette’s analysis focuses on campaign finance reports and candidate positioning, emphasizing Whitehead’s financial lead as a key advantage heading into the summer campaign period. Azcentral’s candidate profiles highlight Whitehead’s incumbency and priorities but do not indicate that she leads in polling or votes.

The Scottsdale City Council consists of six at-large members serving staggered terms, with three seats contested in this election cycle. Because the seats are elected citywide, every registered voter in Scottsdale may vote for up to three candidates. The open seat created by Kathy Littlefield’s term limit has intensified competition among the candidates, many of whom have prior political experience or community involvement.

As the election cycle progresses, voters will have the opportunity to cast ballots during early voting or on Primary Election Day. Official election results will be certified and published by the City Clerk’s office and Maricopa County election officials following the conclusion of the primary. Candidates who advance from the primary will compete in the November general election if necessary to fill the three council seats.