El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican who has held office for more than 12 years, is facing a socialist challenger, labor organizer and former educator Alexander Kraft, in the Nov. 3 election. El Cajon, a city in San Diego County, has historically been a conservative stronghold with Republicans controlling the City Council for decades.
Kraft, a member of the Peace and Freedom Party, is campaigning on a "working-class socialist" platform, presenting a stark contrast to the incumbent. Wells, who has served on the City Council since 2008 and became mayor in 2013, is focusing his campaign on public safety and the city's financial health. He highlights the city's $63 million in reserves and a fully staffed police department, stating, "Public safety is my number one responsibility."
Wells has also been a vocal opponent of policies originating from Sacramento, particularly the state's approach to homelessness. He led El Cajon in a lawsuit challenging California's sanctuary laws.
Kraft's background includes growing up in an El Cajon trailer park and working on an assembly line before graduating from UC Berkeley. His campaign has been marked by organizing protests and rallies focused on social justice issues. "El Cajon’s multi-ethnic working class is under attack by a MAGA-controlled city government more interested in writing checks to billionaire landlords and selling out our residents to ICE than in meeting people’s needs," his campaign states.
Homelessness is a key issue for both candidates, though their proposed solutions differ. Wells advocates for clearing encampments and a treatment-first approach, while Kraft has protested the city's ban on feeding people in public parks. Kraft also proposes a community response team for mental health crises and an audit of police spending to potentially reallocate funds toward community needs.
Campaign finance filings as of June 30 showed Wells with $13,715 in cash, compared to Kraft's $6,701.
Another El Cajon City Council race could also influence the council's balance. Three candidates are vying for the District 1 seat, which is being vacated by longtime Councilmember Gary Kendrick. Kendrick, a former Republican, is now registered as a Democrat. The candidates for his seat include Republican Chuck Kaye, Democrat Patrick Grillot, and Osama Bayati, whose party affiliation is unclear. Kaye, a law enforcement officer, is campaigning on public safety, lower taxes, and maintaining El Cajon as a family-friendly city. Grillot, who has served on a city oversight committee for police and fire facility funding, is focusing on public safety, economic development, and homelessness. Bayati's platform includes supporting young people and small businesses, imposing term limits, and opposing the expansion of Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras.