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 (GRC) 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, we will publish our annual Candidate Q&As in March 2026 to showcase the candidates and their perspectives on key issues.
Offices Up for Election in 2026
| Office |
Number of Seats |
Length of Term |
| Janesville City Council |
3 seats |
2-year term |
| Janesville School Board |
3 seats |
3-year term |
| Rock County Board of Supervisors |
29 seats |
2-year term |
Key Dates for Candidates
| Date |
Details |
| December 1, 2025 |
First day for candidates to circulate Nomination Papers |
| December 26, 2025 |
Deadline for incumbents to file Notification of Non-Candidacy |
| January 6, 2026 |
Last day for candidates to file Nomination Papers |
| February 17, 2026 |
Spring Primary |
| April 7, 2026 |
Election Day |
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. They can guide you through the paperwork and candidate process.
Civic Engagement Resources
Civic engagement in Janesville and Rock County is strong. Several organizations are active in local elections:
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 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 4, 2025