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City of Rancho Santa Margarita · Statewide General Election

Rancho Santa Margarita City Council, District 2

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 your district's seat on Rancho Santa Margarita's 5-member City Council: city ordinances, the budget, and land use, alongside an appointed city manager who runs day-to-day operations. Unlike some of its general-law neighbors, Rancho Santa Margarita does directly, citywide elect its Mayor (currently L. Anthony Beall) on a separate ballot line -- his term is not up in 2026, so there is no mayoral contest this cycle. Not all four council districts are elected the same year -- District 3 (Keri Lynn Baert) is not up in 2026; only Districts 1, 2, and 4 have terms expiring. A 4-year term.

Three candidates are running for Rancho Santa Margarita City Council District 2: Rod Ganjifard, Natalie Guse, and Anne Figueroa, the city's sitting Mayor Pro Tem. Whichever candidate gets the most votes on November 3 wins outright; there's no runoff.

This person holds District 2's seat on Rancho Santa Margarita's 5-member City Council: city ordinances, the budget, and land use, alongside an appointed city manager who runs day-to-day operations. Unlike some of its general-law neighbors, Rancho Santa Margarita directly, citywide elects its Mayor (currently L. Anthony Beall) on a separate ballot line -- his term isn't up in 2026, so there's no mayoral contest this cycle. Not all four council districts are elected the same year -- District 3 (Keri Lynn Baert) isn't up in 2026; only Districts 1, 2, and 4 have terms expiring. A 4-year term.

The city's own City Council page independently confirms Anne Figueroa as the sitting Mayor Pro Tem, corroborating her ballot designation ("Councilmember, City of Rancho Santa Margarita") -- though the county's own Contest/Candidate Proof List lists this contest's incumbent-of-record field as "No Incumbent Elected" rather than naming her directly. Beyond each candidate's own filed occupation, no campaign site, news coverage, or other independent source could be found for Ganjifard or Guse despite a real search effort -- documented below as a gap, not filled in with speculation.

Rod Ganjifard

Filed his candidacy under the ballot designation "Technology Executive." No campaign site, news coverage, or other independent source describing his background or platform could be found in this pass despite a real search effort.

Strengths

A technology-executive background suggests operational and management experience relevant to running a city department.

Trade-offs

No campaign statement or platform was found in this pass, so voters have no confirmed sense of his priorities beyond his listed occupation.

Keep in mind

No CAL-ACCESS record was checked for his campaign in this pass -- see Financial info.

Natalie Guse

Filed her candidacy under the ballot designation "Businesswoman/Mother/Entrepreneur." No campaign site, news coverage, or other independent source describing her background or platform could be found in this pass despite a real search effort.

Strengths

A small-business and entrepreneurial background suggests direct familiarity with the local economy and regulatory environment.

Trade-offs

No campaign statement or platform was found in this pass, so voters have no confirmed sense of her priorities beyond her listed occupation.

Keep in mind

No CAL-ACCESS record was checked for her campaign in this pass -- see Financial info.

Anne Figueroa

Filed her candidacy under the ballot designation "Councilmember, City of Rancho Santa Margarita." The city's own Mayor/City Council page independently confirms Figueroa currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem -- meaning she already sits on the council and holds one of its two officer titles, even though the county's own Proof List lists this contest's incumbent field as "No Incumbent Elected." No campaign site, news coverage, or other independent source describing her platform could be found in this pass despite a real search effort.

Strengths

Currently the city's Mayor Pro Tem, giving her direct experience with the council's own internal officer role.

Trade-offs

No campaign platform was found in this pass beyond her sitting role; no source established when she was first elected.

Keep in mind

No CAL-ACCESS record was checked for her campaign in this pass -- see Financial info.

Source review: Mixed (74/100) · 3 cited sources

Only procedural records are cited (candidate lists, results, finance filings); no source describes the candidates, so the score is capped.

Review note: No cited source describes the candidates; add descriptive coverage to lift the cap.

  • ocvote.gov (opens in a new tab)OC Registrar of Voters -- Contest/Candidate Proof List, General Election 11/3/2026 -- City of Rancho Santa Margarita section (pages 168-171 of 188): confirms City Council District 1 (2 qualified candidates), District 2 (3), and District 4 (1, unopposed) as the city's three November 2026 races, each Vote for 1, with every candidate's filed ballot designation and filing dates
  • cityofrsm.org (opens in a new tab)City of Rancho Santa Margarita -- Mayor/City Council page: the sitting council roster (Mayor L. Anthony Beall, Mayor Pro Tem Anne D. Figueroa, Council Members Keri Lynn Baert, Jerry Holloway, Bradley J. McGirr) -- confirms the city directly, citywide elects a separate Mayor seat (not up in 2026) and independently corroborates Figueroa's and McGirr's current council service
  • cityofrsm.org (opens in a new tab)City of Rancho Santa Margarita -- Election Information page: confirms the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election fills City Council Districts 1, 2, and 4 (each a 4-year term), lists the candidates by district, and notes District 4's single nominee (Brad McGirr) is elected without opposition

Last updated August 31, 2026.