3 San Marcos city races on the Registrar's list for November 3, 2026, 2 of them contested. Below: every city race and the school, water and health district races that include parts of San Marcos, with each candidate's ballot designation exactly as filed with the County Registrar of Voters.
Key dates: register by Monday, Oct 19 (after that, conditional registration through Election Day); select vote centers open daily from Oct 24 and all of them from Oct 31, 8am to 5pm; Election Day, Tuesday Nov 3, 7am to 8pm. Deadlines and a lost ballot · the Registrar's ballot drop box list.
Results: the Registrar's unofficial count for every San Marcos race is on North County election results, with its update time. The first numbers aren't final: mail ballots postmarked by Nov 3 count if they arrive within seven days, and Dec 3 is the deadline to certify.
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San Marcos results: the unofficial count
From the Registrar of Voters' results page, as of its update posted 11/4/2026 2:51:51 AM. The Registrar projected 540,000 ballots still outstanding countywide, so close races can change. The next update is due by 6pm Thursday, Nov 5; every North County race is on North County election results.
CITY OF SAN MARCOS MAYOR
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| SHARON JENKINS leading | 10,781 | 50.08% |
| MIKE SANNELLA | 10,745 | 49.92% |
Close: 36 votes apart.
CITY OF SAN MARCOS MEMBER, CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 1
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| MARIA NUÑEZ leading | 1,836 | 70.08% |
| THOMAS GABRIELE | 784 | 29.92% |
CITY OF SAN MARCOS MEMBER, CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 2
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| JUSTIN MATSUSHITA leading | 3,137 | 50.06% |
| LINDSEY SMITH | 3,129 | 49.94% |
Close: 8 votes apart.
Districts that include parts of San Marcos
SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER TRUSTEE AREA E
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| CHRISTINE BAKER leading | 3,457 | 55.17% |
| DERRICK DAVIS | 2,809 | 44.83% |
PALOMAR HEALTH DISTRICT MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIVISION NO. 3
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| SARAH TELAHUN leading | 8,973 | 50.03% |
| LAURIE EDWARDS-TATE | 8,962 | 49.97% |
Close: 11 votes apart.
PALOMAR HEALTH DISTRICT MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIVISION NO. 5
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| AMANDA CHRISTENSEN leading | 10,832 | 53.86% |
| JOHN CLARK | 9,281 | 46.14% |
PALOMAR HEALTH DISTRICT MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIVISION NO. 7
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| IAN BUTLER leading | 8,367 | 56.93% |
| LINDA C GREER | 6,329 | 43.07% |
San Marcos city races
San Marcos: Mayor
On the ballot: 2 candidates, vote for 1.- Sharon Jenkins: Small Business Owner
- Mike Sannella: San Marcos Deputy Mayor
San Marcos: City Council District 1
On the ballot, uncontested: 1 candidate for 1 seat.- Maria Nunez: San Marcos Councilmember
San Marcos: City Council District 2
On the ballot: 2 candidates, vote for 1.- Justin Matsushita: Educator/Business Owner
- Lindsey Smith: Planning Commissioner/Parent
District races that include parts of San Marcos
Which of these you vote in depends on your address and trustee area or division: your sample ballot lists your exact races. Look up your sample ballot.
San Marcos Unified: Trustee Area C
Not on the ballot: no more candidates filed than seats (Registrar: Election = NO).- Andres Ramos Martin: Board Member/Parent
San Marcos Unified: Trustee Area E
On the ballot: 2 candidates, vote for 1.- Christine Baker: Parent/Certified Appraiser
- Derrick Davis: Parent/Security Executive
Palomar Health: Division 1
Not on the ballot: no more candidates filed than seats, so the board fills the seat (Registrar: Election = NO).- No candidates filed.
Palomar Health: Division 3
On the ballot: 2 candidates, vote for 1.- Laurie Edwards-Tate: Incumbent
- Sarah Telahun: Registered Nurse, Kaiser Permanente
Palomar Health: Division 5
On the ballot: 2 candidates, vote for 1.- Amanda Christensen: Registered Nurse, Scripps Health
- John Clark: Incumbent
Palomar Health: Division 7
On the ballot: 2 candidates, vote for 1.- Ian Butler: Critical Care Physician, Tri-City Medical Center
- Linda C Greer: Registered Nurse
Where to vote in person near San Marcos
- San Marcos Community Center - Main Hall, 3 Civic Center Dr, San Marcos: open October 31 through November 3
- Walnut Grove Park Red Barn, 1950 Sycamore Dr, San Marcos: open October 31 through November 3
- CSU San Marcos - Extended Learning Bldg Rm 109, 288 Campus Way, San Marcos: open October 24 through November 3 (early)
- Double Peak School - Gym, 111 San Elijo Rd, San Marcos: open October 31 through November 3
- La Mirada Academy - Gym, 3697 La Mirada Dr, San Marcos: open October 31 through November 3
- San Elijo Recreation Center - Terrace Rm, 1105 Elfin Forest Rd, San Marcos: open October 31 through November 3
Hours: 8am to 5pm daily through November 2; Election Day, Tuesday November 3, 7am to 8pm. You can vote at any vote center in the county, not just the nearest one.
From the Registrar of Voters' Vote Center Locations list, rebuilt every morning.
Measures and propositions
Countywide measures and the statewide propositions are on every ballot here. The Registrar posts county and district measure text; city measures come from each City Clerk. Registrar: candidate list and measures · California's official voter guide.
SideGuy doesn't endorse anyone. Names and designations are the Registrar's, in its order; "no statement" means the candidate didn't buy a statement in the County voter guide. Source: San Diego County Registrar of Voters, candidate list for the November 3, 2026 General Election. Checked November 5, 2026.
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Questions people ask
Who is leading in the San Marcos election?
In the Registrar's unofficial count as of its 11/4/2026 2:51:51 AM update: Mayor: SHARON JENKINS (10,781 to 10,745 for MIKE SANNELLA); City Council District 1: MARIA NUÑEZ (1,836 to 784 for THOMAS GABRIELE); City Council District 2: JUSTIN MATSUSHITA (3,137 to 3,129 for LINDSEY SMITH). Ballots are still being counted, so close races can change.
Who's running in San Marcos in the November 2026 election?
On the November 3, 2026 ballot, from the County Registrar of Voters' candidate list: Mayor: Sharon Jenkins vs Mike Sannella; City Council District 1: Maria Nunez, unopposed; City Council District 2: Justin Matsushita vs Lindsey Smith. Your sample ballot adds the school and district races for your address.
When will San Marcos election results be posted?
The Registrar of Voters posted the first results on election night and keeps updating its results page, sdvote.com/results. The next update is due by 6pm Thursday, Nov 5; mail ballots postmarked by Nov 3 count if they arrive within seven days, and Dec 3 is the deadline to certify the election.
Who is running for San Marcos: Mayor in 2026?
Sharon Jenkins (Small Business Owner); Mike Sannella (San Marcos Deputy Mayor).
Who is running for San Marcos: City Council District 1 in 2026?
Maria Nunez (San Marcos Councilmember).
Who is running for San Marcos: City Council District 2 in 2026?
Justin Matsushita (Educator/Business Owner); Lindsey Smith (Planning Commissioner/Parent).
Where can I vote in person in San Marcos?
San Marcos Community Center - Main Hall, 3 Civic Center Dr, open October 31 through November 3; 8am to 5pm until November 2, and 7am to 8pm on Election Day. Any vote center in the county works.
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