San Diego to Spend $2.5 Million on Standalone District 5 Council Race
The cost of a special election to replace Marni von Wilpert exceeds previous estimates, with no scheduled primary to consolidate the vote.
By Tyler Khalil ·
A stand-alone special election to fill the empty seat on the San Diego City Council will cost taxpayers $2.5 million. The city is forced to hold this separate vote because the departure of Councilmember Marni von Wilpert does not align with any upcoming county or statewide election calendar. This financial burden falls on the city at a time when the vacancy leaves District 5 without a voting representative.
Von Wilpert, a Democrat, secured victory in the 48th Congressional District race. The Associated Press confirmed her win against Republican Jim Desmond, with the latest vote count showing a 19 percentage point lead. Her transition to Congress triggers a specific timeline under the City Charter. San Diego must organize the special election within 90 days of her official resignation, a window that has not yet been finalized by city officials.
The absence of a scheduled primary or general election for the county or state prevents the city from bundling the District 5 race with other votes. This consolidation strategy was used in the last council vacancy, which occurred in December 2023. When Monica Montgomery Steppe resigned to become a county supervisor, the city combined the special election with the March 5, 2024, primary. That approach avoided the standalone expense now facing the city.
City Clerk Diana Fuentes stated in a press release that the Office of the City Clerk is ready to manage the process. She emphasized that the administration will follow the City Charter and election laws while keeping residents informed. Candidates seeking the seat have a two-week window to file nomination papers with the City Clerk's Office once von Wilpert's resignation is processed.
The state must certify the congressional election results by December 11, before the new members of Congress are sworn in on January 3. This deadline sets the outer boundary for when the city can begin its special election process. If no candidate secures a majority of the votes in the initial special election, the city is required to hold a runoff vote within 90 days of that first round.
Council President Joe LaCava addressed the interim period following von Wilpert's exit. He noted that staff in District 5 will continue to answer constituent calls and handle complaints during the vacancy. "But we do not have a voting councilmember for that district (during the vacancy)," LaCava said. The district will lack legislative power until a new councilmember takes office.
