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 and San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council -- 2026 Endorsements: Imperial Beach Mayor, Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez; City Council District 1, Jose Lopez; City Council District 3, O'mar Diallo may have more bias because they are advocacy voter guides compared to other formal government and nonprofit journalism sources.

sdvote.com (opens in a new tab)San Diego County Registrar of Voters -- Candidate List, November 3, 2026 General Election (current through the 8/24/2026 2:44pm snapshot): confirms Mayor, City Council Districts 1 and 3, City Clerk, and City Treasurer as Carlsbad's five November 2026 races, and Mayor plus City Council Districts 1 and 3 as Poway's three November 2026 races, each Vote for 1
imperialbeachca.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Imperial Beach — Election Information page: candidates for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election (Mayor; City Council Districts 1 and 3), each with filing dates, proposed ballot designation, and a "Qualified" status; also confirms a single direct November election with no primary or runoff and a local $250 contribution cap under Ordinance No. 2024-1242
imperialbeachca.gov (opens in a new tab)City of Imperial Beach — Staff Directory: City Council roster naming Mitch D. McKay (Mayor), Jack Fisher (Mayor Pro Tempore, District 2), Mariko Nakawatase (Councilmember, District 3), Matthew Leyba-González (Councilmember, District 4), and Carol Seabury (Councilmember)
voiceofsandiego.org (opens in a new tab)Voice of San Diego (Jim Hinch) — "Last-Minute Changes Shake Up South County Races": Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez's last-minute entry into the Imperial Beach mayoral race against incumbent Mitch McKay and Karl Bradley; Carol Seabury's decision not to seek re-election to City Council District 1 and her endorsement of Steve Berry over Jose Lopez Eguino
sddemocrats.org (opens in a new tab)San Diego County Democratic Party — Democratic Candidates in the 2026 General Election
unionyes.org (opens in a new tab)San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council — 2026 Endorsements: Imperial Beach Mayor, Matthew Leyba-Gonzalez; City Council District 1, Jose Lopez; City Council District 3, O'mar Diallo
cal-access.sos.ca.gov (opens in a new tab)California Secretary of State CAL-ACCESS — filer search: an ACTIVE "Berry for Imperial Beach City Council 2026 District 1; Steve" committee, alongside terminated committees from unsuccessful 2010 and 2014 council runs
cal-access.sos.ca.gov (opens in a new tab)California Secretary of State CAL-ACCESS — filer search: an ACTIVE "Lopez Eguino for IB City Council 2026; Jose" committee, alongside a terminated 2022 "Eguino for South Bay Union School Board Trustee Area 2" committee

Last updated September 7, 2026.

City of Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach City Council, District 1

This person holds your district's seat on Imperial Beach's 4-member City Council. They vote on city ordinances, the budget, and land use, alongside the citywide-elected mayor. The term is four years.

Steve Berry faces Jose A. Lopez Eguino for Imperial Beach City Council, District 1. The seat is open because incumbent Carol Seabury is not running again. Whoever gets the most votes on November 3 wins. There is no runoff.

This person holds District 1's seat on Imperial Beach's 4-member City Council. They vote on city ordinances, the budget, and land use, alongside the citywide-elected mayor. The term is four years.

With Seabury stepping aside, this is a genuinely open seat between two candidates who represent different constituencies. Berry, a small-business owner endorsed by the outgoing Republican incumbent, is running on a pro-business, continuity-of-approach message. Lopez Eguino, an elected school-board trustee and a community-organizing group's local director, is running on a more progressive platform built around tenant protections and constituent organizing.

Steve Berry

Steve Berry is a lifelong Imperial Beach resident. They own IB Printing, a local business. Outgoing councilmember Carol Seabury endorsed Berry. Seabury is a Republican who is not running again, citing medical and family issues. She said Berry shares her "pro business approach to policymaking." This is Berry's third run for this council seat. State records show they also ran unsuccessfully in 2010 and 2014.

Jose A. Lopez Eguino

Jose A. Lopez Eguino sits on the South Bay Union School District board. He has served as an elected trustee there since 2022. He is also a local director for ACCE, the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. ACCE is a tenant and community organizing group. In 2025 he backed a push for a tenant protection ordinance in Imperial Beach. He is endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party. He is also endorsed by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. Voice of San Diego says his campaign centers on "progressive solutions" to the city's problems.

Your pick

A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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