Escondido is a general law city governed by a five-member City Council. The Mayor and the City Treasurer are directly elected at large. The City of Escondido has been divided into four (4) districts, which shall be used for all regular elections of Council members; for the recall of any Council member elected; for the appointment of any new Council member to fill a vacancy in the office of member of the Council; and for any special election to fill a vacancy in the office of member of the Council. The term of office for each member is four years with staggered terms. The Mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council, City as Successor Agency to the Community Development Commission, Mobilehome Rent Review Board, and Escondido Joint Powers Financing Authority.
Escondido consolidates its General Municipal Elections with the Statewide General Elections held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. In order to be elected as a Mayor, City Council Member, or Treasurer you must receive the highest number of votes cast.
The City Clerk serves as the election officer and is responsible for issuance of nomination papers, placing City measures on the ballot and conducting municipal elections in accordance with the Escondido Municipal Code, the Elections Code, and the Political Reform Act of 1974.
Escondido's most recent General Municipal Election was held November 6, 2018. Paul McNamara was elected Mayor, Consuelo Martinez was elected as Council Member - District One, and John Masson was re-elected as Council Member - District Two.
The next General Municipal Election for Escondido will be held on November 3, 2020. For more information on finding your polling place, candidate details by district, and more please visit our Escondido Election 2020 site.
Additional election information is available on the San Diego Registrar of Voters website and the Secretary of State website.