Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Escondido Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

Elias VelazquezInformation director at Brother Benno's, a nonprofit that serves homeless people in Oceanside. Born and raised in Escondido, he previously served as an aide to former Mayor Paul McNamara.7sourced
Dane WhiteIncumbentEscondido mayor since 2022 and owner of WhiteWerks Flooring LLC, a flooring installation business. He was elected to the Escondido Union High School board in 2016 and served as board president.17sourced

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

All voters pick one candidate for mayor; voters in District 1 or District 2 also pick one candidate for their district's council seat. The most votes wins each race.

4 notes on these statements

District 1 is an open seat: Councilmember Consuelo Martinez is not seeking a third term. San Diego Union-Tribune · Aug 24, 2026

The San Diego County Democratic Party endorsed Elias Velazquez, Vanessa Valenzuela and Anthony DiMartino. KPBS · Sep 30, 2026

The Republican Party of San Diego County endorsed Dane White, Tanner Horsley and Joe Garcia. KPBS · Sep 30, 2026

Dane White and Elias Velazquez debated homelessness at a Sept. 1, 2026 forum hosted by the San Diego Rescue Mission. The Coast News · Sep 9, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Judy FitzgeraldCouncilmember, District 4; seat next on the ballot in 20288sourced Christian GarciaCouncilmember, District 3; seat next on the ballot in 20289sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesHomelessness, ICE use of the police firing range, Ice rink at Kit Carson Park Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Ballots start going out

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Homelessness

Where it standsEscondido follows a public-safety-first approach to homelessness and bans camping on public property under a 2024 ordinance.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to keep that approach, how to spend Measure I money on homelessness, and which providers run new sobering and outreach services.

Unsheltered homelessness in Escondido fell from 307 people in 2025 to 271 in 2026, while the total count rose from 488 in 2023 to 552. San Diego Union-Tribune · Sep 2, 2026
The council voted 4-1 in June 2024 to introduce an ordinance regulating encampments on public property, with Councilmember Consuelo Martinez voting no. Escondido City Council minutes, June 26, 2024 · Jun 26, 2024
In September 2026 the council voted 5-0 to seek proposals for temporary sobering services and homeless outreach services. Escondido City Council minutes, Sept. 2, 2026 · Sep 2, 2026
State homelessness grants typically require a Housing First model. San Diego Union-Tribune · Sep 2, 2026

ICE use of the police firing range

Where it standsThe city rents its police firing range to the Department of Homeland Security; in February 2026 a motion to cancel the agreement got no second.

What's on the tableThe council plans to review the agreement after the election; the current term expires in January 2027, with an option to extend through 2029.

Escondido awarded the one-year contract to the Department of Homeland Security in January 2026 for $22,500, with two optional one-year extensions. San Diego Union-Tribune · Oct 1, 2026
The contract did not go to the City Council because it was below the threshold that requires council approval. San Diego Union-Tribune · Oct 1, 2026
The police chief said Homeland Security Investigations is the only DHS agency that rents the range. The Coast News · Feb 27, 2026

Ice rink at Kit Carson Park

Where it standsThe council voted 5-0 in June 2026 to approve an agreement with The Rinks Foundation to study a three-sheet community ice facility in Kit Carson Park.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to lease park land for the rink or look at other sites.

The agreement explores The Rinks Foundation building and operating the facility under a long-term lease. Escondido City Council minutes, June 3, 2026 · Jun 3, 2026
More than a dozen speakers opposed the proposed Rinks project at Kit Carson Park during public comment at the June 17, 2026 council meeting. Escondido City Council minutes, June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026
Mayor Dane White said the facility would need at least 16 acres and that council members asked staff for a list of other properties. Escondido Times-Advocate

Housing and growth

Where it standsThe council has approved several housing projects on split votes, and staff are working on the Escondido 2040 general plan update.

What's on the tableThe next council will vote on the general plan update and on individual housing projects.

The council approved The Maple, a 128-unit multifamily project downtown, 4-1 in January 2026. Escondido City Council minutes, Jan. 28, 2026 · Jan 28, 2026
In April 2026 the council voted 3-2 to let staff process a general plan amendment for up to 82 multifamily units on land designated light industrial. Escondido City Council minutes, April 15, 2026 · Apr 15, 2026
The council received a presentation on the Escondido 2040 general plan update in August 2026. Escondido City Council minutes, Aug. 12, 2026 · Aug 12, 2026

Budget and Measure I

Where it standsVoters approved Measure I, a one-cent sales tax, in November 2024, and the council adopted the 2026-27 budget 5-0 in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will set yearly budgets and decide how Measure I money is spent.

Measure I passed with 61.12% of the vote in November 2024. San Diego County Registrar of Voters · Nov 5, 2024
In October 2025 the council voted 5-0 to align Measure I spending priorities with the priorities in the 2024 ballot language. Escondido City Council minutes, Oct. 22, 2025 · Oct 22, 2025
The council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026/27 operating budget 5-0 in June 2026. Escondido City Council minutes, June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Should Escondido cancel the agreement that lets federal immigration agents train at the police firing range?
2. Should Escondido switch to a Housing First approach to homelessness to qualify for state and federal funding?
3. How should Escondido handle homeless encampments on public property?
4. Should the city keep pursuing a community ice rink at Kit Carson Park?
5. Should Escondido adopt local rent control for apartments?
6. How should Escondido add homes?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Ballots start going outSan Diego County Registrar of VotersOct 5, 2026
Voter registration deadline (conditional registration after)San Diego County Registrar of VotersOct 19, 2026
Select vote centers openSan Diego County Registrar of VotersOct 24, 2026
All vote centers openSan Diego County Registrar of VotersOct 31, 2026
Election DaySan Diego County Registrar of VotersNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Judy Fitzgerald, Christian Garcia3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Escondido is a general law city governed by a five-member City Council; the mayor and the city treasurer are elected at large. City of Escondido
Councilmembers are elected by district from four districts, and each term is four years, with staggered terms. City of Escondido
The District 1, District 2 and mayor seats are up in 2026; the District 3 and District 4 seats are up in 2028. City of Escondido
The mayor makes and votes on motions like other councilmembers, as council minutes show. Escondido City Council minutes, Feb. 18, 2026 · Feb 18, 2026

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