Mission Viejo Hasn't Had A Normal Election Since 2018: Report

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Mission Viejo will once again place all five City Council seats on the ballot in 2026 as the city works to reset its election cycle after years of irregular elections tied to a court ruling, Voice of OC reported.

The disruption dates back to 2022, when a judge ordered the entire council to stand for election after determining council members had improperly extended their terms. Since then, the city has been navigating how to restore staggered elections while remaining compliant with state law.

In October, the Mission Viejo City Council voted to reestablish staggered terms following the 2026 election. Under the plan, council members representing Districts 1, 3 and 5 will serve four-year terms, while those in Districts 2 and 4 will serve two-year terms.

The shorter terms are intended to realign the election cycle. Beginning in 2028, all council seats will return to standard four-year terms, with elections staggered so that three seats are contested in one cycle and two in the next.

Despite the long-term plan, voters will again see every council seat up for election in 2026 as the city completes its transition back to a normal election schedule.

A slew of other South Orange County cities have dealt with issues surrounding elections over the last several years.

Read more from the Voice of OC: South Orange County Cities Struggle to Maintain Standard Elections