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Elections in Carlsbad

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Key facts: Carlsbad elects its mayor, city clerk and city treasurer citywide, while four City Council districts elect members on a staggered schedule[2][4]. As of November 2026, unofficial returns from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters show incumbents leading in the mayoral and council district races[1].
Unofficial results. The 2026 figures on this page come from San Diego County Registrar of Voters counts as reported by the North Coast Current (update of Nov. 6, 2026)[1] and The Ballot Book (count as of Nov. 10, 2026)[5]. They are not certified. By law, results must be certified by Dec. 3, 2026[6].

Elections in the city of Carlsbad fill five citywide and district offices: mayor, city treasurer, city clerk, and City Council seats in Districts 1 through 4[4][2]. The mayor, clerk and treasurer are elected citywide, while council districts vote in alternating four-year cycles, with Districts 1 and 3 on the ballot in 2026 and Districts 2 and 4 due in 2028[2].

In November 2026, unofficial results reported by the North Coast Current and tracked by The Ballot Book showed Mayor Keith Blackburn, Council member Melanie Burkholder (District 1) and Council member Priya Bhat-Patel (District 3) holding substantial leads over their challengers, with City Treasurer Christian Peacox also ahead and City Clerk Sherry A. Freisinger unopposed[1][5]. Results had not yet been certified as of the most recent reporting; by law the results must be certified by Dec. 3, 2026[1][6].

November 2026 election (unofficial results)

2026 Carlsbad mayoral election (unofficial count)2026 Carlsbad mayoral election (unofficial count)Keith Blackburn33,398 (71.0%)Eric Nixon7,700Stephen Banister3,439Bill Arsenault2,509
Unofficial vote count for mayor of Carlsbad as of Nov. 10, 2026, 5:58 p.m., as reported by The Ballot Book from San Diego County Registrar of Voters updates. Results are not certified; certification is due by Dec. 3, 2026.[5][6]

The City of Carlsbad held a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, to fill the offices of mayor, City Council District 1, City Council District 3, city treasurer and city clerk[4]. Candidates on the ballot for mayor were Bill Arsenault, Keith Blackburn, Eric Nixon and Stephen Banister; District 1 candidates were Nate Larson and Melanie Burkholder; and Priya Bhat-Patel ran for District 3[4].

According to the North Coast Current, citing unofficial returns from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters current as of Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, Blackburn led the mayoral field with 27,813 votes (72.23%), followed by Nixon with 6,118 votes (15.89%), Banister with 2,581 votes (6.70%) and Arsenault with 1,993 votes (5.18%), a margin of 21,695 votes over Nixon[1]. In District 1, Burkholder led Larson 4,785 votes (56.29%) to 3,716 votes (43.71%)[1]. In District 3, Bhat-Patel led Lim 6,256 votes (70.62%) to 2,603 votes (29.38%)[1]. In the treasurer's race, Christian Peacox led Thomas E. Krouse 24,351 votes (66.80%) to 12,102 votes (33.20%)[1]. City Clerk Sherry A. Freisinger, unopposed, received 31,122 votes as of that update[1].

The Ballot Book, an independent election-results tracker, showed later counts as vote tabulation continued. Its Nov. 10, 2026, 5:58 p.m. update listed the top mayoral candidate with 33,398 votes (71.0%), followed by 7,700 votes (16.4%), 3,439 votes (7.3%) and 2,509 votes (5.3%)[5]. These figures correspond, in order, to Blackburn, Nixon, Banister and Arsenault based on matching totals in the Nov. 6 update reported by the North Coast Current[5][1].

November 2024 election

In the November 2024 general election, Carlsbad voters decided races for City Council District 2, District 4 and city treasurer, along with a city ballot measure[7][8]. Unofficial Election Night returns from Nov. 5, 2024, showed Kevin Shin leading Tyler Collins in District 2, 5,779 votes (57.12%) to 4,338 votes (42.88%), and incumbent Teresa Acosta leading Greg Day in District 4, 6,622 votes (55.20%) to 5,375 votes (44.80%)[7]. The Ballot Book's later tally showed Shin with 58.1% (8,414 votes) to Collins's 41.9% (6,057 votes), and Acosta with 55.5% (9,380 votes) to Day's 44.5% (7,511 votes)[8].

Four candidates ran for city treasurer, a seat then held on an interim basis by Finance Director Zach Korach[7]. Election Night returns showed Christian Peacox leading with 10,574 votes (28.43%), followed by Gregorio Kahn with 9,488 votes (25.51%), Thomas Krouse Jr. with 9,096 votes (24.46%) and Michael J. Williams with 8,034 votes (21.60%)[7]. The Ballot Book's final count listed Peacox at 28.2% (14,877 votes), Krouse at 25.6% (13,506 votes), Kahn at 24.5% (12,931 votes) and Williams at 21.8% (11,521 votes), out of 52,835 total votes[8].

Voters also considered Measure B, placed on the ballot by the City Council in June 2024, which would raise the city charter's property-acquisition spending limit under Proposition H from $1 million to $3.09 million, adjust the limit annually based on the regional Construction Cost Index, and exempt public safety facilities from the limit[7]. Early returns showed the measure ahead 53.15% to 46.85% (23,004 to 20,274 votes)[7]. The Ballot Book recorded Measure B as passed with 53.1% support (32,751 votes) to 46.9% (28,977 votes), out of 61,728 total votes[8].

Move to district elections

Carlsbad became a charter city in 2008, after voters approved the proposed charter by 82%[3]. Before the 2018 elections, city government consisted of an elected mayor and four council members, all elected at large[3]. In July 2017, the City Council voted to transition to district elections for council seats, while keeping the mayoral office as an at-large position[3]. Elections for Districts 1 and 3 were held in 2018, and elections for the remaining Districts 2 and 4 were held in 2020[3]. Council members and the mayor continue to serve four-year terms, as was the case before the change[3]. The city's district map was subsequently updated through a 2022 redistricting process[2].

How city elections work

City Council members serve staggered four-year terms, with the mayor, city clerk and city treasurer elected by voters citywide[2][4]. Council Districts 1 and 3 are up for election in the same cycle, in years such as 2026, while Districts 2 and 4 are elected together in separate cycles, such as 2028[2]. For district council seats, a candidate must be an elector of the city and must reside within the specific district at the time nomination papers are issued[4]. Candidates are not eligible if they have been convicted of a felony or other crime that renders a person ineligible under state law to hold public office[4]. City clerk candidates must meet additional qualifications beyond those for council candidates, including either certification as a Certified Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, or two years of full-time salaried experience in business or public administration along with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution[4].

For the 2026 municipal election, the nomination period ran from July 13 to Aug. 7, 2026, at 5 p.m.[4]. Candidate statements submitted during that period are confidential until the close of nominations, after which they are posted for public review under state Elections Code Section 13313; voters may seek a writ of mandate or injunction regarding statement content no later than Aug. 17, 2026, at 5 p.m.[4]. Separately, the Carlsbad Unified School District holds its own nonpartisan school board elections by area, which appeared on the same November 2026 ballot in some areas and in 2024 in others[9].

Common questions

Who led the 2026 Carlsbad mayoral race in unofficial results?

Incumbent Keith Blackburn led with 27,813 votes (72.23%) as of the Nov. 6, 2026 count reported by the North Coast Current[1], a lead that grew to 33,398 votes (71.0%) in The Ballot Book's Nov. 10 update[5].

Which council districts were on the 2026 ballot?

Districts 1 and 3 were up for election in 2026, alongside the citywide offices of mayor, city treasurer and city clerk; Districts 2 and 4 are scheduled for 2028[2][4].

What was Measure B in the 2024 Carlsbad election?

Measure B amended the city charter to raise the property-acquisition spending limit under Proposition H from $1 million to $3.09 million, index it annually to construction costs, and exempt public safety facilities, and it passed with about 53% support[7][8].

When did Carlsbad switch from at-large to district council elections?

The City Council voted in July 2017 to move to district elections for council seats, with Districts 1 and 3 first elected by district in 2018 and Districts 2 and 4 in 2020[3].

References

All sources retrieved November 2026.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Election update: Results lean toward Carlsbad city incumbents". North Coast Current. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "cc_districts". City of Carlsbad. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Carlsbad, California (Wikipedia)". Wikipedia. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "cc_elections". City of Carlsbad. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "City of Carlsbad Mayor - San Diego County November 2026 California General Election Results | The Ballot Book". The Ballot Book. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "San Diego County: When To Expect Election Results". countynewscenter.com. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Carlsbad incumbent, city property measure on track for wins". North Coast Current. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e "City of Carlsbad". The Ballot Book. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ "Carlsbad Unified School District, California, elections - Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 2026.