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City of La Mesa · Statewide General Election

La Mesa City Council

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

This person holds one of two open at-large seats on La Mesa's 5-member City Council, alongside the citywide-elected mayor: city ordinances, the budget, and land use. All four council seats are elected citywide rather than by district; two seats are up this cycle, with the other two next up in 2028. A 4-year term.

Two candidates are running for La Mesa's two open at-large City Council seats: Moana Alo and Amanda-Dawn Natalia. With exactly two candidates for two seats, both are effectively elected outright on November 3, 2026.

Council seats carry 4-year terms. The five-member council -- four members plus a citywide-elected mayor -- sets city ordinances, the budget, and land-use policy, with day-to-day operations run by an appointed city manager. All council seats are elected at-large (citywide), not by district; these two seats are open because their current holders, Patricia Normandy-Dillard and Laura Lothian, are each running for Mayor instead of re-election (see Mayor of La Mesa).

With no opposition in the field, the practical question for voters is which of the two brings the stronger fit for an open council seat rather than a head-to-head choice -- neither candidate is a current officeholder on the council, and both are Democrats endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.

Moana Alo

A field representative for the California State Senate's 79th District who also serves as a La Mesa community services commissioner. A Democrat endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.

Strengths

Direct experience inside state-level constituent-services work, plus an existing city commission appointment that gives her some familiarity with La Mesa's own government before taking office.

Trade-offs

Running unopposed means her record faces no organized counter-argument this cycle, and no detailed platform statement beyond her professional background was found for this guide.

Keep in mind

No campaign-finance figures for Alo were found in the reporting located -- see Financial info.

Amanda-Dawn Natalia

An attorney who chairs La Mesa's Environmental Sustainability Commission and sits on the Community Bond Oversight Committee for the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. A Democrat endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.

Strengths

A legal background paired with direct experience chairing a city sustainability commission and serving on a school-district bond oversight body.

Trade-offs

Running unopposed means her record faces no organized counter-argument this cycle; no detailed platform statement beyond her professional background was found for this guide.

Keep in mind

No campaign-finance figures for Natalia were found in the reporting located -- see Financial info.

Source review: Very strong (94/100) · 3 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

  • 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
  • cityoflamesa.gov (opens in a new tab)City of La Mesa -- Elections page: confirms Mayor, two City Council seats, and City Treasurer as the three November 3, 2026 races, each a 4-year term, and lists the same eight qualified candidates as the county's own Candidate List, confirming council seats are filled at-large, not by district
  • sandiegouniontribune.com (opens in a new tab)San Diego Union-Tribune (Hannah Elsmore) -- "Two council members vie for La Mesa's mayor seat; treasurer's race also on the ballot": dated, bylined reporting naming, and giving party, occupation, and platform detail for, all eight qualified candidates across all three La Mesa races, plus June 30, 2026 cash-on-hand figures for the two councilmember-mayoral candidates and Bill Exeter's 2022 vote share against Matt Strabone

Last updated August 31, 2026.