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City of Chula Vista · Statewide General Election

Chula Vista City Attorney

Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.

This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.

On the ballot

Chula Vista's directly elected city attorney: legal counsel to the City Council, city officials, boards and departments, including drafting ordinances and resolutions and advising on land use, public safety and labor law. A 4-year term.

Incumbent City Attorney Marco Verdugo is unopposed. He was the only candidate to qualify, so the June 2, 2026 primary was canceled outright and his name is the only one voters will see for this office in November.

The city attorney is Chula Vista's elected general counsel: legal advice to the City Council, city officials, boards and departments, including drafting ordinances and contracts and advising on land use, public safety and labor law. A 4-year term.

With no opponent, the useful question is what the office has done, not who to choose. Verdugo has held the seat since a March 2024 special-election runoff and is now seeking his first full term.

Marco Verdugo

The incumbent, elected in a March 2024 special-election runoff over Bart Miesfeld and sworn in that April 9. A lifelong Chula Vista resident with a law degree and over a decade of legal experience, he has done pro bono asylum work through Casa Cornelia Law Center. His campaign lists safety, affordability and accountability as his priorities (per his campaign website).

Strengths

Elected in a March 2024 runoff and sworn in that April; a lifelong Chula Vista resident and attorney with pro bono asylum work through Casa Cornelia Law Center.

Trade-offs

Running unopposed means his first two years in office face no organized counter-argument this cycle.

Keep in mind

The office is legal counsel to the council and staff, not a policymaking seat, so continuity in that advisory role is close to the whole case for an unopposed incumbent.

Source review: Very strong (92/100) · 6 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with several source types checked for context; advocacy or endorsement sources are treated as attributed perspective.

Review note: San Diego County Democratic Party -- Democratic Candidates in the 2026 General Election: Imperial Beach Mayor, Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez; City Council District 1, Jose Lopez Eguino; City Council District 3, O'mar Diallo may have more bias because it is an advocacy voter guide compared to other formal government and nonprofit journalism sources.

Last updated August 31, 2026.