San Diego District 5: $2.5 Million Cost for Special Election
Voters will choose a new city councilmember after Marni von Wilpert heads to Congress, with no scheduled election to consolidate the vote.
By Harper Foster ·
The city of San Diego faces a $2.5 million expense to fill a vacant City Council seat. The county Registrar of Voters estimated the cost for a stand-alone special election in District 5.
Marni von Wilpert, a Democrat, secured the lead in the race for the 48th Congressional District. The Associated Press reported that she is ahead of Republican Jim Desmond by 19 percentage points. Her victory will leave District 5 without a voting councilmember.
The city must hold a special election within 90 days of von Wilpert’s official resignation. The exact date for the vote remains uncertain. State officials must certify the congressional election results by December 11. New members of Congress are scheduled to be sworn in on January 3.
The last vacancy on the San Diego City Council occurred in December 2023. Monica Montgomery Steppe resigned after winning a special election for county supervisor. The city consolidated that special election with the primary election held on March 5, 2024.
No regularly scheduled county or statewide election exists to combine with the upcoming District 5 vote. Council President Joe LaCava stated that District 5 staff will continue serving constituents during the interim. LaCava noted that staff can handle complaints and information requests, but the district will lack a voting representative.
Candidates interested in the seat have two weeks to file nomination papers with the City Clerk’s Office. Diana Fuentes, the San Diego City Clerk, said the office is ready to administer the process. She emphasized that the city will keep residents informed throughout the period.
If no candidate secures a majority in the first vote, the city must schedule a runoff election. That second vote must occur within 90 days of the initial special election.
