Ariana Martinez Lott is running for Fresno City Council District 7 in the November 2026 election against Nav Gurm, for the seat being vacated by termed-out Council President Nelson Esparza. A Fresno State graduate, she has spent more than a decade in community organizing and advocacy work, including direct outreach to undocumented residents in Fresno County, and previously served as Community Relations Director for the city’s District 3 office, helping residents navigate city services. She now works as a community organizing consultant.
Lott has been endorsed by the Central Valley Progressive PAC, the Working Families Party, the Central Labor Council, the Dolores Huerta Action Fund, and several local labor unions, and had raised about $77,000 by June 2026. Her campaign has faced a complaint filed with the Fresno City Attorney alleging she improperly coordinated with the California Working Families Party on campaign mailers in violation of state campaign finance law. She finished second to Gurm in the June 2026 primary with about 36% of the vote.
