Dillard Leads Early in La Mesa Mayoral Race
Democrat Patricia Dillard holds a 4.2-point lead over Republican Laura Lothian as thousands of ballots remain uncounted.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Patricia Dillard leads Republican Councilmember Laura Lothian by 4.2 points among the first 12,466 votes counted in the La Mesa mayoral race. Thousands of votes remain uncounted, and late-arriving ballots, which typically favor Democrats, are still to be tallied.
Why it matters
The race will determine who succeeds Mayor Mark Arapostathis, who is termed out after 12 years in office. Regardless of the outcome, La Mesa will have its first all-woman city council.
Only 12,466 votes have been counted so far, compared with more than 38,000 ballots cast in the last mayoral race, leaving the final margin unsettled. Lothian must overcome Dillard's 4.2-point lead in late ballots to win.
The players
Patricia Dillard
A Democratic candidate for La Mesa mayor who held the early lead in the race and had backing from major labor unions.
Laura Lothian
A Republican councilmember and La Mesa mayoral candidate who trails in early returns and whose previous council win was decided by 11 votes.
Mark Arapostathis
The La Mesa mayor who is termed out after 12 years in office.
The details
Dillard had support from major labor unions and the police and fire unions. Lothian, a Republican, sought to localize her campaign and distance herself from President Donald Trump by building a social media following around city issues.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Election night, when Dillard held her early lead at her watch party.
Political Context
Lothian sought to keep her campaign focused on city issues rather than national politics, distancing herself from President Donald Trump. The late-ballot dynamics, which typically favor Democrats in a district where they hold a 24-point registration advantage, are central to whether that approach can close the gap.
La Mesa voters will see the final mayoral result only after the remaining ballots are counted, and the outcome will decide who leads the city after Mayor Arapostathis steps down. The city's council will also be entirely women, with Amanda-Dawn Natalia and Moana Alo running uncontested for the seats vacated by Lothian and Dillard.
The takeaway
Close local races can hinge on late-counted ballots, so early results should be read with caution until the full count is final.
Further reading
Follow the latest results in the Elections section for more on La Mesa's races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times of San Diego.
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