KPBS has called the mayoral race in Chula Vista for Republican incumbent John McCann. The outcome was confirmed after Democrat Francisco Tamayo reached out to his opponent on Tuesday night to concede. This decision followed early voting returns that indicated McCann was leading by a significant margin.
Tamayo, who works as an information technology specialist and serves as a trustee for the Chula Vista Elementary School District, had sought to unseat McCann in this year’s election. In an interview conducted on Tuesday evening, McCann expressed enthusiasm about returning to his duties. He described the current period as a special time for the city, stating that it is Chula Vista’s decade. He added that he looks forward to collaborating with colleagues and regional partners to improve the community further.
During the campaign, Tamayo frequently criticized McCann for what he viewed as a lack of strong advocacy regarding the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. On election night, Tamayo noted that he hoped the mayor would do more to support the city's immigrant population. He emphasized that while political preferences exist, the ultimate goal is to govern for the entire city, which includes immigrant neighbors.
Despite his criticisms, Tamayo acknowledged that McCann had accomplished significant work for Chula Vista. He stated that the incumbent had earned the right to serve a second term. The contest for the mayorship of San Diego County’s second-largest city drew considerable attention. It was initially uncertain whether Tamayo could mount a serious challenge against McCann, a well-known figure who has served intermittently on the City Council for twenty years.
Both candidates have faced public scrutiny in recent years. Tamayo drew questions regarding his successful effort to remove a fellow Democrat from the school district board. McCann, meanwhile, faced criticism for his advocacy on behalf of a South Bay business owner who was convicted of fraud.
Campaign finance reports highlight a substantial financial disparity between the two candidates. McCann raised and spent more than $350,000 in contributions. In contrast, Tamayo raised only $18,000. According to data from The Ballot Book, most of McCann’s funding came from individual donors. The majority of these donors were based outside of Chula Vista, with only a quarter residing within the city limits. McCann also personally loaned his campaign $10,000 late last year.
For Tamayo, the majority of his campaign funds came from a $10,000 personal loan he provided to his own campaign. Of the remaining funds, about two-thirds were raised from individual donors. The rest came from a committee associated with the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, a labor union based in Los Angeles.
Chula Vista operates as a charter city with a council manager system. Under this structure, the city council selects a city manager to handle daily operations. Council members are responsible for proposing and debating local laws, as well as making decisions on public spending, such as expanding municipal services or cutting programs to fund other priorities.
The mayor serves primarily as an additional member of the city council but holds specific extra responsibilities. These include having greater influence over the weekly council agenda. The mayor also typically represents the city at official events and in regional bodies like the San Diego Association of Government. However, the city’s Democratic majority has voted to remove several of these duties from McCann’s portfolio in recent years.
