Four San Diego Council Seats Up in November
Half of the city council's seats are on the ballot in the November 2026 election, with two incumbents seeking reelection and two seats open.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
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Four San Diego City Council seats will be decided in the general election on November 3, 2026. Two incumbents are seeking reelection and two seats are open because councilmembers are termed out.
Why it matters
The outcome will determine half of the nine-member city council that sets policy for San Diego. Shifts in party registration and primary results in District 2 suggest the races could be competitive.
Bailey, a former Republican who changed his registration to no party preference in February, won 35% of the District 2 primary vote, while the two Democratic candidates combined for about 47%. The general election outcome for all four seats remains undecided.
The players
Richard Bailey
A former Republican and former Coronado mayor who is running for the District 2 seat as no party preference.
Henry Foster III
The incumbent San Diego City Council member for District 4 who is seeking reelection.
Kent Lee
The incumbent San Diego City Council member for District 6 who is seeking reelection against Republican Mark Powell.
The details
Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell is termed out of District 2, and Councilwoman Vivian Moreno is termed out of District 8, where both candidates are Democrats. Incumbent Henry Foster III holds District 4, and incumbent Kent Lee holds District 6, where he faces Republican Mark Powell.
Timeline
February 2026: Richard Bailey changed his party registration to no party preference.
June 2026: The primary election was held, with Bailey winning the District 2 primary.
October 2026: Henry Foster III tried to bring the Flock license plate-reading issue before the full council.
November 3, 2026: General election for the four San Diego City Council seats.
Political Context
The 2026 contest follows the staggered cycle that places half of San Diego's nine council seats on the ballot in even-numbered years. The primary results in District 2, where Bailey led with 35% and Democrats combined for about 47%, show how that cycle is shaping competition this year.
Residents in Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 will choose council members who shape local policy on housing, public safety and city budgets. Voters in these districts should review candidate positions before the November ballot deadline.
The takeaway
Voters in four San Diego districts will decide who holds half the city council, so reviewing the candidates before November is worthwhile. Early primary results show that party registration and neighborhood coalitions will matter in these races.
What happens next
The general election for four San Diego City Council seats takes place on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
Track the candidates and races in the Elections section for San Diego.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC 7 San Diego.
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