Midday Edition

On Midday Edition, we are tackling some of the biggest local races on the ballot, and sitting down with candidates for extended conversations.

National City is among the cities in San Diego County choosing a new mayor in the 2026 midterm election.

We hear from two of the mayoral candidates about their thoughts on National City's budget deficit, housing policy, bayfront development and more.

Guests:

• Marcus Bush, National City councilmember, District 4
• Jose Rodriguez, National City councilmember, District 2

Links:

KPBS Voter Hub

Vote center locations- County of San Diego

A new novel for young readers takes its own spin on a classic Shakespearean love story.

In the book, "Rowan and Gemma," two neurodivergent tweens meet on the first day of school and quickly become friends. Gemma, who is nonverbal, uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device to speak.

Rowan and Gemma's connection, however, is threatened by a growing family feud in their small town, forcing them to keep their friendship a secret.

We sit down with the author to hear about why "Romeo and Juliet" was the perfect backdrop for her story and how she wanted to convey the power of words.

Then, art and noise music collective Stay Strange San Diego is putting on its annual Cemetery Creep bike ride. KPBS' Beth Accomando goes down to Mount Hope Cemetery where the bike ride will make its final stop.

And finally, thinking about what to do this weekend? KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans has you covered with picks ranging from a haunted art exhibit to live music.

Guests:

• Sally J. Pla, children's author, "Rowan and Gemma"
• Sam Lopez, curator, Stay Strange San Diego
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter, host of "The Finest" podcast, KPBS

On Midday Edition, we are continuing to break down local races and measures on San Diego County voters' ballots.

Two of those races include seats for District 5 county supervisor and California State Senate District 40.

We hear more about the candidates in those races.

Guest:

• Alexander Nguyen, North County multimedia producer, KPBS

Links:

KPBS Voter Hub

On Midday Edition, we are tackling some of the biggest local races on the ballot and sitting down with candidates for extended conversations.

One of those races is to represent District 2 on the San Diego City Council. District 2 stretches from Point Loma to Clairemont.

We hear from the two candidates about their thoughts on housing, homelessness and the city budget.

Guests:

• Richard Bailey, former Coronado mayor, candidate for San Diego City Council District 2
• Nicole Crosby, deputy city attorney, candidate for San Diego City Council District 2

On Midday Edition, we are tackling some of the biggest local races on the ballot and sitting down with candidates for extended conversations.

One of those races is to represent District 4 on the San Diego City Council. District 4 encompasses southeastern San Diego and includes the neighborhoods of Encanto, Paradise Hills, Emerald Hills, Chollas View, Mountain View and more.

We hear from the two candidates about their thoughts on housing policy, economic disinvestment, infrastructure and what their hopes are for the district.

Guests:

• Martha Abraham, neonatal nurse, community advocate, candidate for San Diego City Council District 4
• Henry Foster, incumbent, candidate for San Diego City Council District 4

Links:

KPBS Voter Hub

What happens when Native American identity is commodified, and when people claim an ancestry that is not their own?

The book "Who Gets to Be Indian?" explores some of those questions by looking into ethnic fraud, tribal disenrollment and cultural appropriation.

Monday on Midday Edition, we hear from the author of "Who Gets to Be Indian?" ahead of a local screening of the film "You're No Indian." The film explores the impact of disenrollment on Indigenous peoples.

Guest:

Dina Gilio-Whitaker, author, "Who Gets to Be Indian?"

Federal officials announced charges on Monday against 28 people in California who they say illegally registered and voted in federal elections, including four people in San Diego County.

The announcement comes days after the Trump administration sued California over claims of noncitizens voting.

On Midday Edition Monday, we hear the latest on the federal investigation into California's voting rolls, how rare voter fraud is, and what it all means for the coming election.

Guest:

Jake Kincaid, investigative reporter, inewsource

Keep reading:

• DOJ’s San Diego County subpoenas: 25 voters, 15 years of records, one request for a ballot
• Justice Department charges more than 2 dozen in California sweep targeting alleged noncitizen voters
• Trump administration sues California to block state from counting alleged noncitizen mail-in ballots

Proposition 40 is also known as the billionaire tax.

It would establish a one-time, five percent sales tax on California's billionaires, to redirect money towards healthcare funding.

Proposition 40 has divided California voters and Democratic leaders. There are also two countermeasures on the ballot — Proposition 41 and 42 — which would cancel out Proposition 40, even if it passes.

On Midday Edition Monday, we break down what you need to know about Proposition 40 and the arguments on either side of the campaign.

Guest:

• Nadia Lathan, politics reporter, Voice of San Diego and CalMatters