Davis kicks off campaign for third City Council term in Redlands

REDLANDS, Calif. — City Council Member Denise Davis kicked off her reelection campaign Friday night at Viva La Boba in downtown Redlands, launching a bid for a third term with a message centered on community presence, transparency and showing up for residents.

The Jan. 30 event drew a packed crowd of supporters, local elected officials and community leaders to the popular tea shop, which was transformed for the evening with live music, food vendors and a family-friendly atmosphere. A La Minute Ice Cream served scoops outside, a food truck sold hot dogs to benefit the campaign, and a kids’ corner hosted by Cat Ladies for America offered crafts for children.

Davis, who has served on the Redlands City Council since 2018, told attendees she had spent months weighing whether to run again before deciding to seek another term.

“This is why I’m running for office again,” Davis said, gesturing to the crowd. “You make it all worthwhile.”

Supporters at the event, including longtime residents and those who have moved to Redlands more recently, repeatedly described Davis as a council member who is accessible, responsive and engaged with residents across the city.

Brittany Cotton, who said she moved to Redlands a few years ago, said Davis’ values resonate strongly, particularly during what she described as a difficult moment nationally and locally.

“I think mainly what she stands for is, ‘When the least of us succeed, all of us succeed,’” Cotton said.

Several supporters pointed to Davis’ efforts to communicate regularly with residents as a distinguishing feature of her leadership.

“She’s one of the few people that are accessible, that allow for community engagement,” said Amy Hudec.

Michael Paisner cited Davis’ practice of posting video summaries after city council meetings.

“She’s the one who does the summaries after every meeting to keep people informed,” Paisner said. “You don’t see any of the other council members doing anything like that.”

Lee Burton, who said he has supported Davis since the start of her first campaign, said he has seen her engagement with residents firsthand.

“She’s a really good listener, and she’s always very responsive,” Burton said. “I’m also very pleased with the diversity she brings to City Council and the job she’s done.”

Lauren and Gabriel Brown, who attended the event with their 4-year-old son, said they recently moved to Redlands and were drawn to Davis’ emphasis on communication and community engagement. The couple said they hope to see more civil discourse in local politics amid increasing polarization.

Several elected officials attended the event, including Assemblymember Robert Garcia, who represents parts of Redlands. He praised Davis’ approach to governance.

“Denise shows up for everybody,” Garcia said.

Former Redlands City Council member Jenna Guzmán-Lowery said she saw Davis demonstrate patience and composure during contentious discussions while the two served together, calling her ability to negotiate and listen a strength in local government.

During her message to supporters, Davis framed her decision to seek reelection through her personal life. A mother, Davis spoke about balancing campaigning, council responsibilities and parenting, sharing that she ran for reelection in 2022 while pregnant without publicly disclosing it at the time.

“Every meeting I sit through, every tough decision I make, it’s for my family and for all of our families who want a safe, loving community to call home,” Davis said.

Davis highlighted several accomplishments from her eight years on the council, including securing funding to address homelessness, investing in housing and infrastructure, supporting small businesses and strengthening partnerships with educators, health care leaders and nonprofits.

Davis announced she is seeking a third term representing District 1. She said her priorities include supporting working families, expanding opportunity for young people and continuing to build what she described as a city “where everyone belongs.”

“I believe our future is built locally through kindness, collaboration, through supporting working families, through creating opportunity for young people, through making sure seniors can age with grace and care, through building a Redlands where everyone belongs,” Davis said.

The election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. Redlands City Council seats representing Districts 1, 3 and 5 are up for election this cycle. The candidate filing period runs from July 13 to Aug. 7, 2026.

This article was originally published 02/05/2026