Several North County municipal races remained close Wednesday, Nov. 4, as election officials continued counting ballots, with some results pointing toward possible changes in cities led by conservatives. The Registrar of Voters reported that roughly 59 percent of total votes had been counted. Early returns Tuesday night had already shown decisive winners in three major contests affecting the region: the 48th Congressional District, the 40th Senate District and the District 5 County Board of Supervisors race.
In Encinitas, the mayoral contest changed direction between Tuesday night and Wednesday. Democratic challenger Rimga Viskanta initially led conservative-leaning incumbent Bruce Ehlers by 160 votes, but Ehlers subsequently moved ahead by 27 votes. The close contest comes two years after voters elected conservative-leaning candidates for mayor and two council positions. A later appointment of a Republican to a vacant seat gave conservative-leaning members a four-to-one council majority.
Two Encinitas council races also offered opportunities for candidates backed by Democrats. Brad Lefkowits led Republican Marco San Antonio, who was appointed to the council in 2025, by 776 votes. Arielle Golden held a 73-vote advantage over Republican Ed Sprague in the contest to replace Joy Lyndes, the council’s only Democrat, who chose not to seek another term. Since 2024, city leaders have tightened public camping restrictions and emphasized enforcement in homelessness policy. Their criticism of state housing requirements has also reflected concerns shared across party lines in Encinitas.
San Marcos had an even narrower gap in its race for mayor. Former Councilmember Sharon Jenkins, a Democrat, led current Councilmember Mike Sannella, who has Republican backing, by 36 votes. They are competing to succeed longtime Republican Mayor Rebecca Jones, who won the District 5 county supervisor seat. Jenkins is seeking to change the seat’s political alignment, while Sannella hopes to carry forward Jones’ legacy.
In Escondido, where conservatives have held a council majority for several years, Democrat-backed Anthony Dimartino led incumbent Republican Joe Garcia by 213 votes in District 2. Republican Mayor Dane White had a larger advantage in his reelection campaign, leading Democrat-backed challenger Elias Velazquez by 1,424 votes. Democrat Vanessa Valenzuela won the District 1 council contest against Republican Tanner Horsely, succeeding Democratic Councilmember Consuelo Martinez, who did not run again.
Vista’s mayoral race remained unsettled, with former Councilmember Joe Green ahead of Kenneth Zuniga by 470 votes Wednesday. Green, a former Republican who became an independent, saw his advantage shrink after the first returns. Zuniga is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. The winner will succeed conservative Mayor John Franklin, whose bid for the District 5 supervisor seat ended with a June primary loss to Jones.
In Del Mar, Planning Commissioners Meghan Spieker and Jas Grewal were ahead of incumbent Terry Gaasterland in a four-candidate contest for two at-large council seats, according to the Union-Tribune. They were positioned to replace Gaasterland and occupy a fifth council seat that has remained empty since Dwight Worden resigned two years ago.
Poway Mayor Steve Vaus appeared headed for another term, taking most of the votes counted in a three-way race. Incumbent District 3 Councilmember Peter De Hoff also maintained a substantial advantage over his opponent Wednesday.
Other North County cities returned incumbents to office. In Carlsbad, Keith Blackburn won the mayoral race, while Melanie Burkholder and Priya Bhat-Patel won Council Districts 1 and 3, respectively. Oceanside Councilmembers Eric Joyce and Rick Robinson won reelection in Districts 1 and 2, respectively.
