Paloma Aguirre Leads Special Election for San Diego District 1 Supervisor Seat

The special election for San Diego County's District 1 Board of Supervisors seat featured Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre and Chula Vista Mayor John McCann vying to replace former Supervisor Nora Vargas. Early returns showed Aguirre leading with approximately 53% of the vote, with McCann at about 47%, based largely on mail-in ballots, which comprised nearly 99% of votes counted so far. District 1, encompassing key South Bay cities and parts of San Diego, is politically significant as the race will determine whether the Board of Supervisors shifts back to a Democratic majority or remains evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Aguirre's campaign focused on issues like the Tijuana River sewage crisis, while McCann emphasized grassroots voter engagement across the district. Voter turnout was around 18.5% with over 68,000 ballots counted early, and the final results are expected to be certified by the end of July. The winner will serve the remainder of the term through January 2029, impacting major local issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, and environmental challenges.