Krahel enters D5 supervisors race

Former Democratic Party chair and Oceanside native cites housing, healthcare, and energy costs as key issues; will face off against Republican mayors in high-stakes race

Oceanside native Kyle Krahel announced his candidacy Saturday for the District 5 seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Krahel will face off against mayors Rebecca Jones of San Marcos and John Franklin of Vista. Steve Puterski photo

OCEANSIDE — A Democrat has finally entered the 2026 race for the District 5 seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Oceanside native Kyle Krahel announced his candidacy in front of more than 50 people on Saturday at Oceanside City Hall. He also stepped down as the chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party to run for the seat.

The race also features Republican mayors Rebecca Jones of San Marcos and John Franklin of Vista. Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Republican who currently holds the seat, is termed out and is running for the 49^th Congressional seat currently occupied by Mike Levin (D-CA).

Krahel, who also works as Levin’s deputy chief of staff, said several of his priorities for the Board of Supervisors are tackling the cost of living, housing affordability, rising energy costs and homelessness.

“I knew it was my time to step up and serve in a new capacity,” he said. “Right now, North County has a supervisor (Jim Desmond) that is more interested in doing Fox News hits to scaremonger about bike lanes and immigrants than he is instead of facing the issues.”

Krahel’s political career began as a teenager when he was appointed to the city’s Youth Commission, which he eventually chaired. After graduating from El Camino High School, he earned a degree in government from Harvard University, then returned to Oceanside, where he worked as Sanchez’s aide from 2010 to 2011, served on the Planning Commission, and later became its chair.