San Diego, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

San Diego City Council Election 2026

4 of 9

council seats up

4 contests

8 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.

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 6 · 1 seat

City Council District 8 · 1 seat

Voters in Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 each pick one councilmember in a two-candidate runoff; the other five council seats and the mayor are not on this ballot.

6 notes on these statements

At Voice of San Diego's Politifest, the District 6 debate was canceled because neither Kent Lee nor Mark Powell agreed to take part, and Martha Abraham withdrew from the District 4 debate. Voice of San Diego · Sep 30, 2026

The city firefighters' union withdrew its endorsement of Henry Foster III in September 2026. Voice of San Diego · Sep 16, 2026

San Diego United Communities, a residents' group, is supporting Richard Bailey and Mark Powell; Martha Abraham's campaign says she has not sought or received its endorsement. Voice of San Diego · Sep 16, 2026

The San Diego County Democratic Party endorsed Antonio Martinez in District 8. San Diego Union-Tribune · Aug 10, 2026

An independent committee opposing Richard Bailey reported $120,000 from unions in September; one supporting Antonio Martinez reported $250,000 from local unions. KPBS · Sep 29, 2026

There are no City of San Diego measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. San Diego Union-Tribune · Jun 24, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Raul CampilloDistrict 7 councilmember.9sourcedSean Elo-RiveraDistrict 9 councilmember.11sourcedTodd GloriaMayor of San Diego, the city's chief executive officer.4sourcedJoe LaCavaDistrict 1 councilmember and current council president.10sourcedStephen WhitburnDistrict 3 councilmember.9sourcedMarni von WilpertDistrict 5 councilmember.7sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesBudget deficit and new taxes, Trash fees and paid parking, Homelessness and the camping banKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Ballots start going out

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget deficit and new taxes

Where it standsThe council unanimously passed a fiscal 2027 budget in June 2026 to address a $118 million structural deficit; voters rejected city tax measures in 2024 and June 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to cut services further or put a new tax, such as a sales tax increase, before voters.

Trash fees and paid parking

Where it standsA 2026 lawsuit settlement ends Balboa Park paid parking on Dec. 31 and lowers the single-family trash fee to $38.75 a month starting next year.

What's on the tableWhether to allow paid parking at beaches and bays, and how to make up the lost fee revenue.

Homelessness and the camping ban

Where it standsA 2023 ordinance restricts encampments on public property; how strictly to enforce it is still debated.

What's on the tableHow to balance enforcement with shelter and services as homelessness spending is squeezed by the deficit.

Who runs City Hall

Where it standsUnder the strong-mayor system, the mayor runs city departments; Mayor Gloria has also served as his own chief operating officer since 2025.

What's on the tableWhether to push the mayor to restore a chief operating officer or send voters a charter change in 2028.

Housing and Midway Rising

Where it standsThe council restricted the ADU bonus program in 2025, and the Midway Rising redevelopment of the Sports Arena site awaits final council approval this fall.

What's on the tableWhether to approve Midway Rising and whether to change ADU and other housing rules again.

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. San Diego has a structural budget deficit, and voters narrowly rejected a one-cent city sales tax in 2024. Should the city ask voters for a new tax?

  2. 2. Since 2025, owners of single-family homes pay a city fee for trash pickup that used to be free. Should the city charge this fee?

  3. 3. The city began charging for parking in Balboa Park in 2026 and will stop at the end of the year. A ban on paid parking at beaches and bays may come to the council. Should the city charge for parking at its parks and beaches?

  4. 4. A 2023 city ordinance bans homeless encampments on public property in many situations. Should the city enforce it?

  5. 5. San Diego's elected mayor runs city operations. Since 2025 Mayor Gloria has also done the job of chief operating officer himself. What should change?

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

6 stay (not up this year): Raul Campillo, Sean Elo-Rivera, Todd Gloria, Joe LaCava, Stephen Whitburn, Marni von Wilpert4 on this ballot

9 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

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