Imperial County Candidates’ Field Takes Shape for November Election
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-Editorial
The field of candidates for Imperial County’s Nov. 3, 2026, general election is taking shape, with races developing for county offices, school boards, community services districts, water districts and health care districts.
The candidate-status list, updated Aug. 7 by the Imperial County Elections Department, includes incumbents seeking reelection, challengers and candidates seeking seats where incumbents are not returning.
Two Imperial County Board of Supervisors races will be decided in November runoffs.
In District 1, incumbent Jesus Eduardo Escobar faces Enrique “Kiki” Alvarado. In District 5, incumbent John Hawk faces Patricia “Patty” Lizarraga.
Several school districts have contested races.
The Calexico Unified School District will elect three members, with Zohe Garcia, incumbent Carlos J. Contreras, Michael Castillo, incumbent Kevin Arellano and Ciro C. Calderon listed.
The Imperial Unified School District also will elect three members. Candidates listed include Arthur Sonny Sanchez II, Madeline George Ross, incumbents Jill Tucker and Daniel Yee, Nichole D. Elmore, Victor “Chino” Torres, George Hermosillo Buennes and Linda Y. Aguiar.
Other contested school district races include San Pasqual Valley Unified, Brawley Union High, Central Union High, Brawley Elementary, El Centro Elementary, Heber Elementary, Meadows Union Elementary and Seeley Union Elementary.
Several of those races have extended filing periods.
At the Imperial County Office of Education, incumbent Cesar R. Rodriguez is listed for Area I, while Arnold A. Preciado is listed for Area II. The Area II filing period has been extended.
Imperial Community College trustee races also are on the ballot. Incumbent Karla A. Sigmond is listed in Trustee Area 2; incumbent Betsy Lindbergh and Lizzie Cardenas are listed in Area 5; and incumbent Erik Ortega is listed in Area 7.
The Imperial Valley Healthcare District has candidates in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 7. Appointed incumbent Enola Berker is listed in District 1. Karla Flores is listed in District 2, while Jacob Nicholas Rodriguez, Ashley Contreras De la Vega and Gregory Gelman are listed in District 3. District 7, which has a partial-term seat, lists Javier “JG” Gonzalez, Lorena Minor-Montes and Christina M. Rojas.
Other special-district races include contests for the Heber Public Utility District, Salton Community Services District, Seeley County Water District and Bombay Beach Community Services District. Several of those races have extended filing periods.
City council seats are scheduled for election in Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial and Westmorland. The City of Imperial also has a city clerk position on the ballot. No candidates for those city races were included in the information provided in the Aug. 7 update.
The candidate list remains subject to change as filing periods close, candidates complete qualification requirements and the county elections office updates its records.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
