San Clemente, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

San Clemente Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

All San Clemente voters choose the mayor; voters in District 1 or District 2 also choose their district's council member, and the candidate with the most votes in each district wins.

4 notes on these statements

Mark Enmeier and Steve Knoblock, both current councilmembers whose terms expire in November 2026, are running against each other in District 2. City of San Clemente

Victor Cabral, a sitting councilmember whose current term expires in November 2026, is a candidate for mayor. City of San Clemente

Measure M, a citizens' initiative for a 1% sales tax, appears on the same ballot. City of San Clemente · Aug 13, 2026

Steve Camp, Aaron Washington, Donna Vidrine, Kathy Ward, Victor Cabral, Shane Hirschman, Mark Enmeier and Steve Knoblock all took part in the Sept. 14 San Clemente Chamber of Commerce candidate forum. San Clemente Times

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Rick LoefflerMayor; council term expires November 20285sourcedZhen WuCouncilmember; term expires November 20285sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesMeasure M: sales tax for beaches and fire, Downtown parking and outdoor dining, Housing and state requirementsKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots available

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Measure M: sales tax for beaches and fire

Where it standsMeasure M, put on the ballot by petition, would add a 1% sales tax for 10 years and needs a majority of yes votes on Nov. 3.

What's on the tableIf voters approve it, the next council would oversee two new funds, one for beach protection and one for fire protection and wildfire preparedness.

  • The measure would add a 1% sales tax, raising about $15 million a year for 10 years, for beach erosion and fire protection programs. City of San Clemente · Aug 13, 2026
  • Half of the proceeds would go to a Beach Protection Fund and half to a Fire Protection and Wildfire Preparedness Fund; at least 70% of the beach fund must go to sand and erosion control. City of San Clemente
  • The city's sales tax rate would rise from 7.75% to 8.75% if the measure passes. City of San Clemente
  • The City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-66 on May 5, 2026 to submit the measure to voters. City of San Clemente

Downtown parking and outdoor dining

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council introduced an ordinance keeping temporary parklet dining under design standards until January 1, 2029, and changed downtown parking time limits by urgency ordinance.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how outdoor dining and downtown parking fit together as the parklet ordinance approaches its 2029 sunset.

Housing and state requirements

Where it standsThe council has been amending its zoning code to match its Housing Element commitments and state law, and candidates differ on how to approach new housing.

What's on the tableThe next council will vote on further zoning changes and on how to handle state housing requirements.

City budget and revenue

Where it standsThe council adopted a two-year budget for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28 in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee that budget and decide how to use any unassigned fund balance after the year-end audit.

What the council weighs in on

Where it standsOn September 1, 2026 the council adopted a resolution regarding Proposition 39 by a 3-1-1 vote.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether and when to take positions on state and national measures.

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. 1. Where do you stand on Measure M, the proposed 1% sales tax for beaches and fire protection?

  2. 2. What should happen to outdoor dining parklets in downtown parking spaces?

  3. 3. What should be the city's first step on downtown parking?

  4. 4. How should San Clemente approach new housing?

  5. 5. If city expenses outpace revenue, what should come first?

  6. 6. Should the council take positions on state and national issues?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Rick Loeffler, Zhen Wu3 on this ballot

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

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