Voters in San Marcos sat at the intersection of three of the region's most consequential contests this election year: the District 5 seat on the County Board of Supervisors, the 40th Senate District and the 48th Congressional District. On Tuesday morning, many of them made their way to the San Marcos Community Center to vote in person.
Maria, a San Marcos resident, was among the early voters and said she recognized how much this election matters for her community. She backed Kyle Krahel, the Democrat in the race for the North County supervisor seat. Krahel is a political newcomer and former chair of the county Democratic party, running against Republican Rebecca Jones, the current mayor of San Marcos. "Kyle seems more focused on our communities," Maria said, pointing to issues like homelessness, affordable housing and affordable childcare.
Another early-morning voter, Akasia, went the other direction and chose Jones for the District 5 seat. She said the decision came down mainly to experience, since she has watched Jones serve as mayor of San Marcos for many years. "I really like her leadership style, and I liked the way she ran her campaign," she said. "Also, she's a girl, and I'm a girl's girl."
District 5 covers the North County cities of Escondido, San Marcos, Oceanside and Vista, along with 10 unincorporated communities including Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Rainbow and Valley Center. The current supervisor, Jim Desmond, is termed out and is now running for the 48th Congressional District.
That congressional race was a major draw for Raj, a father who lives and works in Vista and saw a chance to flip the 48th District and, ultimately, Congress. Last year, voters approved Gov. Gavin Newsom's redistricting measure, Proposition 50, which created five new Democrat-leaning congressional districts, including the 48th. Control of the House of Representatives is at stake. Desmond, the Republican, faces Democrat Marni von Wilpert, a San Diego city councilmember, for the seat currently held by Republican Rep. Darrell Issa.
Raj arrived early with his daughter at the San Marcos Community Center to drop off his ballot, and said he voted for von Wilpert because he is hoping for real change. "Desmond has been in office for a long time, but I haven't seen much from his record in terms of real change," he said. "I want to see something different, and I think Marni can bring that." Grace, a 26-year-old from San Marcos, also voted for von Wilpert, saying she believes von Wilpert will fight for issues like women's rights, while Desmond, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, would not.
Of the voters who weighed in on the 48th race, only one supported Desmond. Luke, a father and business owner in San Marcos, lived in the city when Desmond was mayor and backed his campaign for supervisor eight years ago. "He's a common sense leader," Luke said. "And he's the kind of leader I would want in Congress." The 48th District spans North County cities including Escondido, San Marcos and Vista, as well as parts of Riverside County and the Coachella Valley, including Temecula, Murrieta and parts of Palm Springs.
The third race on San Marcos ballots was the contest for Senate District 40, where Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane and Democrat Mara Elliott, a former San Diego city attorney, are vying to replace state Sen. Brian Jones, a Republican who is termed out. Andrea, a San Marcos resident, voted for Elliott but without much excitement. "Honestly, I wasn't super happy with either candidate," she said. "I do think Mara is the better choice; she's not someone who I'm necessarily excited to vote for."
Charlie, who works in San Marcos but lives elsewhere in North County, voted in person for Bruce-Lane. He felt she was the better candidate and, more importantly, that she supports lower taxes. "Mara wants to raise our taxes, and I already pay enough," he said. Senate District 40 runs from the Riverside County line south through Escondido and Poway, then juts east past Alpine.
