A 6-Way Santa Barbara Mayor’s Race and More on November’s Ballot

The political landscape on California's Central Coast is shifting into high gear. Following the preliminary candidate filing deadline for the Santa Barbara County Elections Office, the November ballot is taking shape, bringing a highly competitive race for the Santa Barbara mayor’s seat. The city is gearing up for a major electoral cycle that will test the direction of local governance.

The upcoming municipal election will feature a six-way contest for the mayor’s seat, alongside several heated City Council races.

A Six-Way Race for Santa Barbara Mayor

The American Riviera is preparing for a political shakeup as Mayor Randy Rowse's current seat becomes the center of a high-stakes election. With the filing period advancing, six distinct candidates have officially thrown their hats into the ring.

According to preliminary filings from the Santa Barbara County Elections Office, two familiar faces from the current City Council are among those vying for the city's top executive spot: Eric Friedman and Kristen Sneddon. The transition of power marks a significant moment for Santa Barbara, as both sitting councilmembers leverage their experience in local governance to appeal to voters across the 805 region.

They will face a diverse field of challengers. Wendy Sims-Moten, the executive director of First 5 Santa Barbara County and a former Santa Barbara Unified School Board member, brings extensive experience in education and family services to the race. The mayoral ballot is further rounded out by candidates Mark G. Redmond, David Matthew Kilrain, and Michael Stilwell. The winner will be tasked with steering the city through ongoing challenges related to housing, infrastructure, and community welfare.

Shifting Seats on the City Council

In addition to the mayoral sweepstakes, four of the seven seats on the Santa Barbara City Council are up for grabs this cycle, guaranteeing a fresh dynamic at City Hall. The races are drawing robust interest, with several highly contested districts on the ballot.

Because Sneddon and Friedman are running for mayor, their respective council seats are opening up, creating a rare opportunity for new leadership. In District 4, four candidates have filed to run: Devon Wardlow, Monte Lee Wilson, Genevieve Taft-Vasquez, and Jason Dominguez.

The District 5 race to replace Friedman features three contenders: James Gregory Zurlinden, Ian J. Baucke, and Margaret Cevin Cathell. Meanwhile, Councilmember Meagan Harmon is defending her District 6 seat against three challengers: Alexander Logan Stoeber, Gabriel “Gabe” Escobedo, and Anabella Guadalupe Lehne.

Some races across the broader county have extended deadlines because current officeholders have not yet filed to run again, leaving the door open for additional candidates to enter the fray before the final roster is solidified later this week.

Key Races Across the 805 Region

Beyond Santa Barbara city limits, the November ballot is packed with consequential municipal races shaping the future of the Central Coast:

• Santa Maria: Three City Council seats are in play (Districts 1, 3, and 4). The District 1 race features Ricardo “Richard” Batalla, who was appointed earlier this year following Carlos Escobedo's abrupt resignation in March, facing off against Celest Sienna Mendoza. In District 4, only Vincent Martinez, a local attorney, has filed so far, as incumbent Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez pivots to run for the County Board of Supervisors.
• Lompoc: The mayoral race is a high-profile contest between current Mayor James “Jim” Mosby and Councilmember Jeremy James Ball.
• Goleta & Carpinteria: Goleta features contested races in Districts 1 and 2, where incumbents Luz Reyes-Martín and James Kyriaco are defending their seats. Carpinteria voters will see incumbent Mónica Solórzano challenged by Aja Forner in District 1, while longtime District 5 representative Al Clark has opted not to run again, leaving an open seat.

High-Profile County and Federal Showdowns

Local voters across the Central Coast will also be tasked with deciding key county and federal matchups that advanced from the June primary.

In the Fifth District County Supervisor race, Santa Maria City Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez and Santa Maria-Bonita School District board member Ricardo Valencia are heading to a runoff election. Valencia, also a high school teacher, and Aguilera-Hernandez will compete to represent a vital North County constituency.

On the federal level, voters will decide their next representative in the 24th Congressional District. The November general election will feature incumbent Democrat Salud Carbajal, who has served in Congress since 2016, squaring off against Republican challenger Bob Smith. The outcome of these races will help determine the region's alignment on broader state and national issues.

As the final candidate lists are confirmed, residents are encouraged to check the official Santa Barbara County Elections Office website for the most up-to-date information regarding their specific districts. The stakes are high, and local officials emphasize that participating in these municipal elections remains one of the most direct ways for 805 residents to shape the future of their communities.