Murrieta voters choosing between two city council races, two school board contests and a $359 million school bond will find mail ballots already in their mailboxes.

The Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election includes local, county, state and federal races. The online voter registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 19. After that, same-day registration with a provisional ballot is available through Election Day. Vote centers are open now, and drop-box locations are listed on the Riverside County Registrar of Voters website.

City council: Districts 2 and 5

Two Murrieta City Council seats are on the ballot, according to the city's official notice of nominees. Both races are nonpartisan.

In District 2, incumbent Ron Holliday faces small business owner Joshua Barton and police sergeant Keelan McCullough, 41, who has 18 years in law enforcement and previously served on the city's Traffic and Library commissions. In a Press Enterprise questionnaire published Oct. 5, McCullough called public safety Murrieta's biggest need, saying the city "must make sure our police officers, dispatchers, firefighters and other first responders have the staffing, resources and support necessary to keep up with that growth."

In District 5, incumbent Cindy Warren faces assistant project manager Luiz Valdez Jr.

A District 1 election was canceled after only one candidate filed by the Aug. 7 deadline. The council appointed Jon Levell to that seat on Aug. 18.

MVUSD trustees and Measure M

Two Murrieta Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) trustee seats are on the ballot. In Area 1, incumbent and current board President Nick Pardue faces retired teacher Guia M. Blaske and teacher/coach Jeremy Murphy. In Area 2, incumbent Nancy Young faces finance professional Courtney Thouvenell.

The district's Measure M asks voters to approve up to $359 million in general obligation bonds for school facility repairs. Property owners would pay about $60 per $100,000 of assessed value annually. The measure needs 55% to pass under Proposition 39 rules.

The MVUSD board unanimously approved placing the bond on the ballot on May 12, according to the district's Measure M page. The district reported more than 125 roof leaks across campuses in the past year, and many HVAC systems are over 25 years old.

The bond would generate roughly $22 million a year and cost taxpayers an estimated $714 million, including interest, through its 2058-59 sunset, the Press Enterprise reported in May. MVUSD already carries three active bonds: Measure K ($98 million, expiring 2029), Measure E ($120 million, expiring 2033) and Measure BB ($98 million, expected payoff 2050).

When the board voted to place Measure M on the ballot, trustee Nancy Young pointed to a True North Research survey that found 60% to 73% of respondents favored a bond. "Seventy-five percent, that says a lot," Young said at the May 12 meeting, as reported by the Press Enterprise.

Measure A: county road tax

Countywide Measure A would continue an existing half-cent sales tax for road and transit projects, generating about $280 million a year. The tax would remain in effect until ended by voters.

Other races on the ballot

Four Rancho California Water District board seats are contested. Three incumbents face two challengers, including former Temecula City Council Member Maryann Edwards.

In the new Congressional District 48, which now includes Murrieta after voters approved Proposition 50 in a 2025 special election, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond (R) faces San Diego City Council Member Marni von Wilpert (D) to replace retiring Rep. Darrell Issa, according to the Los Angeles Times. Part of Murrieta also falls in CD-40, where Rep. Ken Calvert (R) faces Rep. Young Kim (R).

State Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R) faces Dr. Tiffanie Tate (D) for Senate District 32. Assembly Member Kate Sanchez (R) faces JJ Galvez (D) for Assembly District 71. The governor's race features Democrat Xavier Becerra against Republican Steve Hilton. Fourteen statewide propositions also appear on the ballot.

Mail ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10. Drop-box ballots are due by 8 p.m. Nov. 3.