Kayla Lauriano, a registered nurse with 17 years of clinical experience, is running for the Tri-City Healthcare District Board in Division 2. The nonpartisan seat is on the ballot in the Nov. 3, 2026, California General Election.
Lauriano said she is running because she believes the community "deserves healthcare leadership that understands both the patient experience and the realities of healthcare delivery." She said she wants to help ensure the hospital remains financially strong, patient-centered and responsive to community needs.
Candidate information
- Office sought: Tri-City Healthcare District Board, Division 2
- Party affiliation: Democrat (the position is nonpartisan)
- Residence: Oceanside (more than 20 years)
- Born at: Tri-City Medical Center
- Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch
- Family background: Daughter of a retired Marine and retired mammography technologist; grew up on Camp Pendleton
Experience and public service
Lauriano has not held elected or appointed office.
She said she is the first in her family to step into public service. Her nursing career spans high-risk labor and delivery, postpartum, antepartum, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and student health settings, according to her campaign website. She served as a charge nurse for nearly a decade, coordinating teams and advocating for patients.
Lauriano said she started community college at 16 before earning her nursing degree. She is also a co-author of the Mermaid Mamas ebook series, which provides evidence-based resources on pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum care, she told SDVoyager.
She said she has also navigated the healthcare system as a patient, living with multiple autoimmune conditions that eventually took her away from bedside nursing.
On the issues
Access to healthcare: Lauriano said access to care matters deeply to her after spending nearly two decades seeing what happens when patients can and cannot get the care they need. She said families should not have to travel far, navigate unnecessary barriers or wonder whether care will be available when they need it most.
Tri-City partnership with Sharp HealthCare: Lauriano called this "an especially important moment for Tri-City" and said having someone at the table who understands healthcare from the bedside is important as the district moves forward with its partnership with Sharp HealthCare.
Fiscal responsibility: Lauriano said providing excellent care and maintaining financial sustainability are not competing priorities. She said strong governance requires responsible stewardship of resources while investing in services that improve community health.
Transparency and community representation: Lauriano said the hospital should reflect the needs and voices of the community it serves. She said she is committed to listening, engaging stakeholders and ensuring transparency and accountability.
Lauriano said she understands healthcare "from both sides of the bed," pointing to her experience as a nurse, a patient and a community member. Voters in Division 2 will see the seat on the Nov. 3 ballot.
