The incumbent mayor of Tarlac, Genaro Mendoza, was term-limited and thus unable to seek re-election to another term in office.
He unsuccessfully sought election for the 2nd district congressional seat in Tarlac.
Former three-term Mayor Gelacio Manalang, who served from 1992 to 2001, successfully staged a comeback for the mayoralty post after having been defeated by Mendoza during the previous two elections.
Manalang narrowly defeated former councilor Sherwin Rigor, as well as Marco Mendoza, brother of incumbent Mayor Mendoza, and incumbent 2nd district provincial board member Amado Go.
Mendoza's Team Magsikap coalition won seven out of ten seats in the city council, with Rigor's Team Malasakit coalition getting the remaining three seats.