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. 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. 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.
Major election issues include budget shortfalls, homelessness, parking fees, rising cost of living, and housing affordability, part of a broader housing crisis statewide.
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. Fifteen candidates have filed or declared to run for the seat as of March 4, 2026.
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. Five additional candidates have filed to run for the seat as of March 4, 2026.
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. Three additional candidates have filed to run for the seat as of March 4, 2026.
District 8 consists of the southern communities of San Diego and those along the MexicoâÂÂUnited 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. Eight candidates have filed to run for the seat as of March 4, 2026.
Following the election, the city council will select the president of the city council. The current council president is Joe LaCava, serving since 2025.
Official campaign websites