2026 San Diego City Council election
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November 3, 2026
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4 of the 9 seats on the San Diego City Council | ||||||||||
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| Elections in California |
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The 2026 San Diego City Council election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.[1] Four of the nine seats on the San Diego City Council are contested.
Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, although most members do identify a party preference. A two-round system will be used for the election, starting with a primary in June followed by a runoff in November between the top-two candidates in each district.
Seats in San Diego City Council districts 2, 4, 6, and 8 are up for election in 2026.[1] Incumbents Henry Foster III (District 4) and Kent Lee (District 6) are seeking re-election, while Jennifer Campbell (District 2) and Vivian Moreno (District 8) are ineligible for re-election due to term limits.[2]
Major election issues include budget shortfalls,[3][4] homelessness,[5] parking fees,[6][7][8] rising cost of living,[9] and housing affordability,[10][11] part of a broader housing crisis statewide.
District 2
District 2 consists of the communities of Clairemont, Midway, Mission Beach, Mission Bay Park, Ocean Beach, Old Town, and Point Loma.
Democratic incumbent Jennifer Campbell is ineligible for re-election due to term limits. Seven candidates have qualified to run for the seat as of April 2, 2026.[1]
Candidates
Qualified
- Richard Bailey, former mayor of Coronado, California (2016–2024)[1][12][13]
- Josh Coyne, former aide to councilmember Jennifer Campbell[1][2]
- Nicole Crosby, deputy city attorney[1][2]
- Mandy Havlik, community activist[1][2]
- Jacob J. Mitchell, chemist[1]
- Michael Rickey, merchant marine[1]
- Paul Suppa, attorney[1]
Disqualified
- Michael Blow[1]
- Leisa A. Bockenhauser[1]
- Sandra Kay[1]
- Mark B. Potocki[1]
- Nicole A. Quillin[1]
- Daniel Smiechowski[1][14]
- Eric Tims[1]
Publicly expressed interest
- Lori Saldaña, former Speaker pro tempore of the California State Assembly (2008–2010) and former state assemblymember from the 76th district (2004–2010)[2]
- Andrea Schlageter[2]
Endorsements
U.S. Representatives
- Scott Peters, CA-50 (2013–present)[15]
State legislators
- Catherine Blakespear, SD-38 (2022–present)[16]
- Chris Ward, AD-78 (2020–present)[16]
Local officials
- Lauren Cazares, La Mesa city councilmember (2024–present)[15]
- Stephen Whitburn, San Diego city councilmember from the 3rd district (2020–present)[15]
Organizations
Labor unions
Statewide officials
- Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor of California (2019–present)[18]
State legislators
- Brian Maienschein, AD-76 (2012–2024)[18]
- Darshana Patel, AD-76 (2024–present)[18]
Local officials
- Sabrina Bazzo, San Diego Unified School District trustee from District B[18]
- Crystal Crawford, former mayor of Del Mar[18]
- Henry Foster III, San Diego city councilmember from the 4th district (2023–present)[18]
- Monica Montgomery Steppe, San Diego County Supervisor from the 4th district (2023–present)[18]
- Nicole Murray-Ramirez, honorary mayor for life of Hillcrest, San Diego[18]
Organizations
- Asian American Pacific Islander Democratic Club[18]
- California Women's List[18]
- Latina Democratic Club of San Diego[16]
- Pacific Beach Democratic Club[18]
- San Diego County Young Democrats[18]
- San Diego Democrats for Equality[16]
- Triton Democrats[18]
Labor unions
- AFSCME Local 127[17] (dual endorsed with Josh Coyne)
- Western States Carpenters Local 619[18]
Political parties
- California Working Families Party[19]
- San Diego County Democratic Party[20][21]
Organizations
- Point Loma & Ocean Beach Democratic Club[22]
Results
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Independent[a] | Richard Bailey | |||
| Democratic | Josh Coyne | |||
| Democratic | Nicole Crosby | |||
| Democratic | Mandy Havlik | |||
| Democratic | Jacob J. Mitchell | |||
| Libertarian | Michael Rickey | |||
| Independent | Paul Suppa | |||
| Total votes | ||||
District 4
District 4 consists of the communities of Alta Vista, Broadway Heights, Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Greater Skyline Hills, Jamacha, Lincoln Park, Lomita Village, North Bay Terrace, Oak Park, O'Farrell, Paradise Hills, Redwood Village, Rolando Park, South Bay Terrace, Valencia Park, and Webster.
Democratic incumbent Henry Foster III is seeking re-election to a second term. Two additional candidates have qualified to run for the seat as of April 2, 2026.[1]
Candidates
Qualified
- Martha Abraham, nurse[1][24]
- Johnny Lee Dang, administrative assistant[1]
- Henry L. Foster III, San Diego city councilmember from the 4th district (2023–present)[1][25]
Disqualified
Withdrawn
- Mathew Gordon, former aide to Councilmember Myrtle Cole[26][27][28]
Endorsements
Statewide officials
- Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State (2021–present)[29]
State legislators
- Akilah Weber, SD-39 (2024–present)[29]
Local officials
- Patricia Dillard, La Mesa city councilmember[29]
- Sean Elo-Rivera, former president of the San Diego city council (2021-2024), San Diego city councilmember from the 9th district (2020–present)[29]
- Joe LaCava, president of the San Diego city council (2024–present), San Diego city councilmember from the 1st district (2020–present)[29]
- Kent Lee, president pro tem of the San Diego city council (2024–present), San Diego city councilmember from the 6th district (2022–present)[29]
- Monica Montgomery Steppe, San Diego County Supervisor from the 4th district (2023–present)[29]
- Vivian Moreno, San Diego city councilmember from the 8th district (2020–present)[29]
Labor unions
Political parties
- California Working Families Party[19]
- San Diego County Democratic Party[21]
District 6
District 6 consists of the communities of Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa, Mission Valley, North Clairemont, and Rancho Peñasquitos.
Democratic incumbent Kent Lee is seeking re-election to a second term. One additional candidate has qualified to run for the seat as of April 2, 2026, with one other pending as a write-in candidate.[1]
Candidates
Qualified
- Kent F. Lee, San Diego city councilmember from the 6th district (2022–present)[1]
- Mark Powell, businessman[1]
Declared
- Jane L. Glasson[1]
Disqualified
- Bea Bautista[1]
Endorsements
District 8
District 8 consists of the southern communities of San Diego and those along the Mexico–United States border, including the communities of Barrio Logan, Egger Highlands, Grant Hill, Logan Heights, Memorial, Nestor, Ocean View Hills, Otay Mesa West, Otay Mesa East, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton, and Tijuana River Valley.
Democratic incumbent Vivian Moreno is ineligible for re-election due to term limits. Four candidates have qualified to run for the seat as of April 2, 2026, with two others pending as write-in candidates.[1]
Candidates
Qualified
- Antonio Martinez, member of the San Ysidro School District Board of Education (2012–present)[1][2]
- Venus Molina, chief of staff to San Diego city councilmember Jennifer Campbell[1][2]
- Rafael Perez, educator[1][2]
- Gerardo Ramirez, chief of staff to San Diego city councilmember Vivian Moreno[1][2]
Declared
Disqualified
Endorsements
State legislators
Local officials
- Paloma Aguirre, San Diego County Supervisor from the 1st district (2025–present)[30]
- Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez, Imperial Beach city councilmember[30]
- Jose Preciado, Chula Vista city councilmember[30]
- Jose Rodriguez, National City councilmember[30]
Organizations
- San Ysidro Education Association[30]
Local officials
- Geysil Arroyo, San Diego Community College District board president[31]
- Marcus Bush, National City councilmember[31]
- Lauren Cazares, La Mesa city councilmember (2024–present)[31]
- Cody Petterson, San Diego Unified School District trustee from District C[31]
- Alysson Snow, mayor of Lemon Grove, California[31]
- Ditas Yamane, National City councilmember[31]
Organizations
Political parties
- California Working Families Party[19]
State legislators
- Toni Atkins, former President pro tempore of the California State Senate (2018-2024) from SD-39 (2016-2024)[32]
- LaShae Sharp-Collins, AD-79 (2024–present)[33]
Local officials
- Teresa Acosta, Carlsbad city councilmember[34]
- Jennifer Campbell, San Diego city councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present)[34]
- Carolina Chavez, Chula Vista city councilmember[34]
- Mary Salas, former mayor of Chula Vista[34]
- Stephen Whitburn, San Diego city councilmember from the 3rd district (2020–present)[35]
Labor unions
Labor unions
- AFSCME Local 127[17] (dual endorsed with Venus Molina)
- Western States Carpenters Local 619[36]
Results
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Antonio Martinez | |||
| Democratic | Venus Molina | |||
| Democratic | Rafael Perez | |||
| Democratic | Gerardo Ramirez | |||
| Total votes | ||||
Council president
Following the election, the city council will select the president of the city council. The current council president is Joe LaCava, serving since 2025.[37]