Costa Mesa Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Loren Gameros
Candidate for Mayor
Loren Gameros is running for mayor of Costa Mesa in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Mike Buley.
Vote-by-mail ballots available · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayBuilding inspection instructor and District 2 councilmember, first elected to the council in 2020. He teaches building inspection to apprentices with the Operating Engineers Training Trust.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Instructor/Councilmember
- Campaign website
- www.loren4mayor.com
If Mike Buley or Loren Gameros is elected mayor, the council seat he leaves would likely be filled by council appointment or a special election, which could cost about $250,000. Daily Pilot · Jan 15, 2026
Where Loren Gameros stands: positions on the record
Public safety1 sourced position
Says he supports giving police tools to find criminals while asking tough questions about technology and privacy.
“I will ask tough questions about technology and make sure residents' privacy and freedoms are protected.”
Own statementLoren Gameros campaign site
Flock cameras1 sourced position
Moved and voted for keeping Flock cameras while the contract is renegotiated, with data kept 45 days (passed 6-1, July 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
Renters3 sourced positions
Lists supporting renters facing rising costs among his priorities.
“Support renters facing rising costs.”
Own statementLoren Gameros campaign site
Voted yes on requiring notice of any eviction, developing a rental registry proposal and creating a renters' network (passed 4-2, Sept. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Sept. 9, 2025 · Sep 9, 2025
Voted yes on asking staff for cost and staffing details on a Network for Renters' Solutions (passed 5-2, March 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, March 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
Housing2 sourced positions
Lists helping first-time homebuyers among his priorities.
“Help first-time homebuyers have a real chance in the community where they live and work.”
Own statementLoren Gameros campaign site
Voted yes on rezoning housing element sites to comply with state housing law (passed 5-2, April 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Fairview Park1 sourced position
Voted yes on moving forward with the draft Fairview Park Master Plan update, with the flying field moved east (passed 4-3, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
Business regulation1 sourced position
Voted yes on adopting an ordinance requiring staffing at self-service checkout stations (passed 5-2, Feb. 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Feb. 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026
Budget and taxes2 sourced positions
Voted yes on directing staff to explore hotel tax and business license tax measures for the 2026 ballot (passed 4-2, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
Voted yes on adopting the 2026-27 city budget, with budget reviews every three months (passed 5-2, June 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
Immigration legal aid1 sourced position
Voted yes on creating a $200,000 legal defense fund for residents facing immigration enforcement (passed 5-2, Sept. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Sept. 9, 2025 · Sep 9, 2025
Code of ethics1 sourced position
Voted no on adopting a council code of ethics and conduct with added definitions (failed 3-4, April 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Past candidacy1 sourced position
Ran for Costa Mesa City Council, District 2 in 2024 (won).
Own statementOrange County Registrar of Voters · Dec 3, 2024
What Loren Gameros said vs. how Loren Gameros voted
Renters
In their words
Lists supporting renters facing rising costs among his priorities.
On the record
Voted yes on requiring notice of any eviction, developing a rental registry proposal and creating a renters' network (passed 4-2, Sept. 2025).
Sep 9, 2025 ·Costa Mesa City Council minutes, Sept. 9, 2025 · Sep 9, 2025
Voted yes on asking staff for cost and staffing details on a Network for Renters' Solutions (passed 5-2, March 2026).
Mar 17, 2026 ·Costa Mesa City Council minutes, March 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
Housing
In their words
Lists helping first-time homebuyers among his priorities.
On the record
Voted yes on rezoning housing element sites to comply with state housing law (passed 5-2, April 2026).
Apr 7, 2026 ·Costa Mesa City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Also running for Mayor
All 8 Costa Mesa candidates →Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →
See something wrong? Report an error
Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.