Carlsbad residents will pick a mayor, two City Council members, a treasurer and a city clerk on Nov. 3, with early voting opening Saturday, Oct. 24, at two locations.

Four candidates are running for mayor, according to the city's official candidate list. Incumbent Keith Blackburn, a retired police sergeant first elected to the council in 2008, is seeking a second term as mayor. He faces Bill Arsenault, Eric Nixon and Stephen Banister.

Blackburn's campaign reported raising $42,673, including $13,178 in loans from the candidate, in the first half of 2026 and held a total cash balance of $201,570 as of June 30, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Nixon raised $651 during the same period. Arsenault and Banister reported no fundraising.

At a Sept. 29 candidates forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of North County San Diego at Dove Library, all four mayoral hopefuls agreed Carlsbad needs more local control over housing development. "We really are hamstrung by the laws," Nixon said at the forum, reported by the Union-Tribune.

The San Diego County Republican Party endorsed Blackburn. The county Democratic Party endorsed Nixon, according to KPBS.

District 1: Incumbent Melanie Burkholder, a mental health therapist, faces Nate Larson, an art director and educator. Burkholder raised $16,899 in the first half of 2026; Larson raised $7,375. Republicans endorsed Burkholder; Democrats endorsed Larson.

District 3: Incumbent Priya Bhat-Patel, the current mayor pro tem, is running for a third term against Wayland T. Lim, a tech consultant. Bhat-Patel raised $27,479 and held $34,166 as of June 30. Lim did not file a campaign finance disclosure. Democrats endorsed Bhat-Patel. District council races appear only on ballots for residents in those districts.

Treasurer: Incumbent Christian Peacox faces Thomas E. Krouse. Peacox was elected in 2024 to fill the remaining two years of former Treasurer Craig Lindholm's term and is seeking his first full four-year term. Democrats endorsed Peacox; Republicans endorsed Krouse.

Clerk: Incumbent Sherry Freisinger is running unopposed for a second term.

How to vote

Early vote centers at Alga Norte Community Park and Calavera Community Park open Saturday, Oct. 24, according to Patch. Five more sites open Saturday, Oct. 31: Magnolia Elementary School, Pine Avenue Community Center, Leucadia Wastewater District, Stagecoach Community Center and Hope Elementary School.

Vote centers are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 2, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, according to the city's official notice of election. Voters may use any county vote center, not just the one nearest their home.

Mail ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by county election offices by Nov. 10. Ballots dropped at designated drop boxes must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters will also decide 14 state propositions and two countywide measures. Proposition 1 would authorize $11.25 billion in bonds for affordable housing. Proposition 40, which the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce opposes, would impose a one-time tax of up to 5% on certain assets of residents worth more than $1 billion, excluding real estate and some retirement accounts. Countywide Measure B would enact a half-cent sales tax estimated to generate up to $450 million annually for health care, public safety and other services.

Candidate statements and full election details are available at the city's election information page.