City of Sonoma politics revolve around managing the world-famous Sonoma Plaza — California's largest — and the constant pressure of wine and culinary tourism on a small residential community. Vacation rental caps, hotel project debates, and historic preservation dominate council races. The 2017 and 2020 wildfires reshaped infrastructure and emergency planning priorities. Sonoma has approximately 10,700 residents and 8,100 registered voters across Sonoma County. Local seats on the ballot include Sonoma City Council (5 members), Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Sonoma Valley Health Care District. Issues driving Sonoma campaigns: Short-term rental and hotel moratoriums; Historic Plaza preservation and traffic; Wildfire recovery and PSPS reliability. Local Campaign Pros runs end-to-end campaigns for Sonoma candidates and measures — strategy, mail, voter data, lawn signs, field, and FPPC compliance tuned to the Sonoma County voter file.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-21