Speakers & Sessions
Explore the Politifest 2026 sessions and confirmed participants. Select View bio to open a speaker’s biography on the separate bio page. Moderator cards link directly to each Voice of San Diego profile.
Session details are subject to change as additional speakers, times and rooms are confirmed.
South County Mayoral Races
140 E 12th St., National City, CA 91950.
Two South County mayoral races moderated by Voice of San Diego reporter Jim Hinch.
National City Mayoral Race: Bush vs. Rodriguez vs. Castrejon vs. Beauchamp
Moderator · Both Races
Jim Hinch
Reporter, Voice of San Diego
Moderator profile →
Chula Vista Mayoral Race: McCann vs. Tamayo
North County Election Races
Harding Community Center Auditorium, 3096 Harding St., Carlsbad.
County Supervisor, District 5: A Conversation with Kyle Krahel
San Marcos Mayoral Race: Jenkins vs. Sannella
Should San Diegans Pay Up for Health Care and the Sewage Crisis?
Eligible for one (1) CA MCLE credit, pending approval.
A coalition of labor unions and advocates is pushing a countywide half-cent sales tax increase to fund health care, child care, solutions to the Tijuana River sewage crisis and public safety.
Speaker
Courtney Baltiyskyy
Director of Children First SD
Moderator
Lisa Halverstadt
Senior investigative reporter, Voice of San Diego
Moderator profile →
San Diego City Council, District 2: Bailey vs. Crosby
The discussion will include homelessness, the city budget and housing costs.
San Diego City Council, District 4: A Conversation with Henry Foster
San Diego City Council, District 8: A Conversation with Antonio Martinez
Voting Matters: Your Ballot Questions Answered
Eligible for one (1) CA MCLE credit, pending approval.
CalMatters will break down, analyze and answer questions about this year’s election, with a focus on the propositions on the ballot and the latest edition of its Voter Guide.
Should Developers Build Faster with Less Environmental Review?
Developers want to build faster. Environmentalists want them to build carefully. Proposition 45 would favor development and put environmental review on a short timer.
Speaker
Heather Riley
General counsel, BIA of San Diego; land use attorney, Allen Matkins
View bio →
Speaker
Emma Manoukian Chung
Director, BCFS Public Affairs; lead consultant, YES on Prop 45 campaign
View bio →
Moderator
MacKenzie Elmer
Reporter, Voice of San Diego
Moderator profile →
San Diego Voters 101
Eligible for one (1) CA MCLE credit, pending approval.
An exclusive lunch conversation examining San Diego voters, voting trends, housing status and the data campaign professionals use to shape their strategies.
Speaker
Casey B. K. Dominguez
Professor of political science and international relations at the University of San Diego
View bio →
Moderator
Scott Lewis
CEO and editor-in-chief, Voice of San Diego
Moderator profile →
Gubernatorial Forum
Prop. 40: The Billionaire Tax
Moderator
Will Huntsberry
Voice of San Diego
Moderator profile →
The Supreme Court: Mail-In Ballots and More with Professor Maimon Schwarzchild
A conversation about recent Supreme Court decisions.
El Cajon Mayoral Race: A Conversation with Alexander Kraft
The Future of the Democratic Party
Moderator
Bella Ross
Social Media Producer, Voice of San Diego
Moderator profile →
El Cajon City Council, District 1: Bayati vs. Grillot vs. Kaye
Leading with Love: USD’s Approach to Civil Discourse
Join USD student leaders for an interactive workshop on respectful, constructive conversations that help bridge divides, build understanding and approach difficult topics with empathy and curiosity.
Moderator
Emily Entwistle
USD third-year undergraduate student
Moderator
Michelle Martinez
USD fourth-year undergraduate student
Moderator
Rebekah Sugano
USD fourth-year undergraduate student
More Speakers Coming Soon
We’re continuing to add confirmed biographies and photos. Check back as the full Politifest 2026 lineup is announced.