- 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 September 7, 2026.
City of La Mesa
La Mesa City Council
This person holds one of two open at-large seats on La Mesa's 5-member City Council, alongside the citywide-elected mayor. They vote on 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. The term is four years.
Two candidates are running for La Mesa's two open council seats. They are Moana Alo and Amanda-Dawn Natalia. There are two seats and two names, so both win 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
Moana Alo is a field representative in the state Senate's 79th District. Alo is also a La Mesa community services commissioner. Alo is a Democrat, and the San Diego County Democratic Party has endorsed Alo.
Amanda-Dawn Natalia
Amanda-Dawn Natalia is an attorney. Natalia chairs the La Mesa Environmental Sustainability Commission. The San Diego County Democratic Party has endorsed Natalia, a Democrat.
Your picks · choose up to 2
A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.