Want to make a difference in your community? Consider running for local office.
Voters will head to the polls on April 7, 2026 to elect representatives for the Janesville City Council, Janesville School Board, and the Rock County Board of Supervisors.
Forward Janesville and our Government Relations Council play an educational role in helping our members—and the community at large—understand the election process and learn about the candidates. While we do not endorse candidates or host forums, we publish our annual Candidate Q&As to showcase the candidates and their perspectives on key issues. This year, we launched our Local Elections webpage earlier to help connect interested candidates with resources. The deadline for circulating nomination papers is fast approaching (December 1st) so the time to consider running is now. Check this page frequently for updates.
What Does it Mean to Run for Public Office?
Being a member of the Janesville City Council, the Janesville School Board or the Rock County Board of Supervisors means being a community leader. When you run for public office, you are making the commitment to serve and elevate the community. Running for public office also entails understanding your role as a member of the city council, school board or county board. These are non-partisan, volunteer roles and the scope is focused on:
- Providing oversight of leadership;
- Guiding budget development and financial decision making; and
- Steering community development by setting standards for expected outcomes.
Offices Up for Election in 2026
| Office |
Number of Seats |
Length of Term |
| Janesville City Council |
3 seats |
2 years |
| Janesville School Board |
3 seats |
3 years |
| Rock County Board of Supervisors |
29 seats |
2 years |
Key Dates for Candidates
| Date |
Details |
| December 1, 2025 |
First day for candidates to circulate Nomination Papers |
| December 26, 2025 by 5 p.m. |
Deadline for incumbents to file Notification of Non-Candidacy |
| January 6, 2026 by 5 p.m. |
Last day for candidates to file Nomination Papers |
| February 17, 2026 |
Spring Primary |
| April 7, 2026 |
Election Day |
Qualities of an Effective Candidate
Many of our Government Relations Council (GRC) members have served on the city council, school board and/or county board. They know what the job demands and what it takes to be a force for positive impact. To prepare candidates for their roles in public service, GRC developed a list of qualities that effective candidates possess. Effective candidates:
- Understand the scope of the role;
- Are willing to learn and engage;
- Are data-driven and future-focused in decision making;
- Are holistic in approach (not one-issue candidates); and are
- Clear communicators.
Candidate Resources
A great first step when considering a run for office is connecting with the clerks at the City of Janesville, School District of Janesville, or Rock County, depending on the office you are seeking, and reviewing the available resources. They can guide you through the candidate process and paperwork.
Local Civic Engagement Organizations
Civic engagement in Janesville and Rock County is strong. Several organizations are active in local elections and they are listed alphabetically below:
Each organization engages in local elections in a different way. Some host candidate forums. Some publish materials and help candidates run for local office. Some endorse candidates. While Forward Janesville does not formally collaborate with these organizations, we link to the helpful tools they have and publicize any public candidate forums they host.
✅ This page will be updated frequently as the election cycle progresses.
📅 Last updated: September 8, 2025