Following elections for the District 1 empty seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre defeated Chula Vista Mayor John McCann with 53.9% of votes, compared to McCann’s 46.1%.
McCann conceded on Wednesday morning.
While the election was technically nonpartisan, Nora Vargas’ abrupt departure left a split board in its wake – with two Democrats and two Republicans on the dais. The partisan backing of whoever fills the empty seat holds significant weight.
Registered voters in the district – which includes the cities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City and other south San Diego neighborhoods from Barrio Logan to San Ysidro and Otay Mesa near the U.S.-Mexico border – chose a candidate to represent them until the term ends in January 2029.
On June 23, the county reported 370,801 registered voters.
July 16, official election canvass completion
Aguirre, a Democrat, was elected as the first Latina mayor of Imperial Beach in 2022.
She has been active in confronting the Tijuana sewage crisis alongside Coronado’s elected officials and environmental advocates. She was named vice chair of the California Coastal Commission last December.
That same year, McCann, a Republican, was elected mayor of Chula Vista.
He is a decorated Iraq war veteran and continues to serve as a commander in the United States Navy Reserves, according to his biography. He has also been a crusader for public safety and has worked to prioritize neighborhood infrastructure improvements.
Results are considered unofficial until the completion of the official canvass of the election anticipated for July 16.
County of San Diego Communications Office said final certified results will be posted by July 31.
More information about the special election is available online at sdvote.com.
