Paloma Aguirre celebrates her election victory with supporters in Imperial Beach.
In a significant political shift, Paloma Aguirre has won the District 1 seat on the County Board of Supervisors, defeating Chula Vista Mayor John McCann. Aguirre’s victory leads to a Democratic majority on the board, emphasizing issues like the sewage crisis in Imperial Beach. With approximately 53.88% of the votes, her focus will be on enhancing public health and tackling homelessness. The election result marks a change in the political landscape of the district, highlighting community concerns and prompting commitments to address local issues.
Imperial Beach – In a significant political shift, Paloma Aguirre, the Mayor of Imperial Beach, has won the race for the District 1 seat on the County Board of Supervisors, defeating Chula Vista Mayor John McCann. McCann formally conceded the election on July 1, 2025, congratulating Aguirre on her victory.
As the results indicate, Aguirre received approximately 53.88% of the votes, totaling 41,821 ballots, while McCann polled 46.12% with 35,793 votes. With voter turnout reaching 21% from the 370,801 registered voters in the District, a total of 77,774 ballots were counted as of the concession date. However, the results remain unofficial until certified by the Registrar of Voters by July 16, 2025.
This election marks an essential change in the political landscape, as Aguirre’s victory establishes a Democratic majority on the Board of Supervisors, with three Democrat seats against two Republican seats. She will serve until the end of the current term in January 2029, filling the vacancy left by the unexpected resignation of former Supervisor Nora Vargas.
Throughout her campaign, Aguirre emphasized her commitment to critical issues affecting the South County, such as the sewage crisis plaguing Imperial Beach, support for working families, and tackling homelessness. Aguirre’s campaign has been heavily focused on addressing the ongoing sewage pollution as she pledges to push for a Superfund designation from the Environmental Protection Agency to treat the issue as a public health emergency.
McCann expressed pride in his campaign, which centered on reducing living costs, enhancing public safety, and addressing homelessness. He acknowledged their past collaborations, specifically on the Tijuana River sewage pollution crisis, and offered his assistance to Aguirre on ongoing challenges faced by South County communities.
Local political figures, including Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), have congratulated Aguirre. Padilla described her as a leader with vision and a champion for working families, emphasizing the importance of her victory for the region.
The District 1 area includes significant population centers such as Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City, and parts of San Diego, totaling around 650,000 residents. Aguirre’s election also reflects a response to increasing concerns from residents about homelessness and public health challenges exacerbated by sewage pollution, which has been a central issue in her political career.
Aguirre, who became Mayor of Imperial Beach in December 2022, plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of county spending related to homelessness and intends to implement effective strategies to tackle this ongoing issue. In contrast, McCann, who has served as Mayor of Chula Vista since 2022, focused on improving public safety and reducing taxes throughout his campaign.
Notably, the financial stakes in this election were high, with more than $3.5 million incurred in campaign spending between both candidates and supportive organizations contributing to their campaigns. Aguirre’s campaign promises include bold actions against Medicaid cuts while focusing on enhancing public health services for working families.
With Aguirre’s leadership and her proactive stance on pressing community issues, including the sewage crisis, the outcome of this special election signals a shift that will likely shape future policies and initiatives within the County Board of Supervisors.
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