Primary Elections

Thank you for your interest in becoming a candidate in the 2026 Town of Cave Creek Election. This information is an important first step in the election process and has been prepared to provide you with information and candidate requirements for the 2026 Town Council Election.

The next Town of Cave Creek Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 for the purpose of electing one Mayor to a two-year term and six Councilmembers to a two-year term.

While every effort is made to provide a comprehensive overview of the election process for the Town of Cave Creek, this candidate information and the noted resources are provided with the understanding that Town Clerk staff cannot render legal or financial advice. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all legal requirements have been met.

Please note that the Cave Creek Town Clerk serves as the filing officer for all local election forms.  All forms must be filed with the Cave Creek Town Clerk’s Office within the deadlines noted in the State statutes. Candidates are encouraged to refer to the Arizona State Constitution, the Arizona Revised Statutes, and the Cave Creek Town Code and consult an attorney for legal requirements pertaining to being a candidate. 

A candidate for the office of Mayor and Council must be:

  • a qualified and registered voter of the Town of Cave Creek
  • registered to vote no later than the date of the first signature on the nomination petitions; and 
  • a resident of the Town of Cave Creek or in an area annexed to the Town for at least one year prior to the election.

Before collecting any signatures, the Candidate Statement of Interest must be filed with the Town Clerk.

At least 108 and not more than 215 signatures of qualified registered voters of the Town of Cave Creek are required.

New Deadlines
The Primary Election has moved up two weeks to Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Due to this change all corresponding deadlines have moved up two weeks as well:

  • Candidate Filing (by appointment) now begins on February 21, 2026
  • Candidate Filing (by appointment) closes on March 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

The opportunity to use E-Qual to gather petition signatures online has been made available through the Secretary of State’s Office.  With the use of E-Qual, the system verifies each signature and 118 will be the maximum number of electronic petitions allowed per candidate. Candidates may choose to use both paper petitions, and E-Qual. Candidate and Voter Guides will be provided. 

Posting may begin May 11, 2026 (71 days prior to the election) and must be removed by August 5, 2026 *(15 days following the election).

*Unless candidate is moving forward to the November 3, 2026 General Election for a run-off.