Volunteers and residents gathered at 24 locations across San Diego County and Temecula on Saturday for “No Kings: Vote Early” events focused on encouraging early voting ahead of the November election. Rather than a single large rally, the day featured locally organized events shaped by the communities hosting them. Across the county, the mood was festive and welcoming with costumed attendees, drum lines, live music and passersby in cars honking in support.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SATURDAY
- Rep. Sara Jacobs visited events in La Mesa and Julian, speaking with attendees and encouraging early voting.
- Balboa Park’s “Drag Out the Vote” featured stilt walkers, drag performances, inflatable costumes, music and a “Power” wall created by attendees with their “I Voted” stickers.
- University City and Ramona included mock-voting booths for children, giving younger participants a chance to learn about voting.
- Several events built in a walk to a library or community ballot drop box, including Fallbrook, Julian, La Mesa, Mira Mesa, University City, La Jolla and Alpine.
- Scripps Ranch and Alpine held their first organized No Kings events.
“On Saturday, people across the United States came together peacefully and joyfully at ‘No Kings: Vote Early’ events nationwide and across San Diego County to celebrate the power of the people and the strength of our democracy,” said Wendy Gelernter, San Diego United Organizing Committee member. “Our message was clear: Our votes are our voices, our votes are our power, and now is the time to use them. Vote early. Vote now. Vote for democracy!”
By City News Service – Times of San Diego / October 17, 2026
Demonstrators assembled at dozens of “No Kings” rallies in San Diego County throughout the day Saturday to protest the Trump administration and encourage voters to cast their ballots as early as possible.
The events varied from walking to the polls to mutual-aid donation drives and hanging signs from freeway overpasses, but each one was intended to reflect its neighborhood, according to organizers.
Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, appeared at an event in East County and posted a message on social media.
“So many fired up people at the No Kings March in La Mesa today! In America, WE have the power — not kings — so make your voice heard at the ballot box by November 3rd,” Jacobs posted.
The county’s No Kings events were spread across local communities rather than concentrated in one massive downtown rally. Organizers planned 21 events across the region, combining demonstrations with voter-registration assistance, ballot drop-offs, neighborhood walks and community activities.
Events were organized in communities including Ocean Beach, La Jolla, Mira Mesa, University City, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Vista, Oceanside, Fallbrook and Ramona.
The format was intentionally decentralized, so there was no single crowd to count, according to organizers.
Wendy Gelernter, a member of the San Diego United Organizing Committee, said Saturday’s events were different.
“Why? Because those rallies were about showing the size and diversity of our movement, and we did! Oct. 17 is about putting that power to work: encouraging our friends and neighbors to vote, and to vote early,” she said.
“Smaller, local events give us the best opportunity to connect directly with voters and share both the importance and the joy of voting.”
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MEDIA COVERAGE
Saturday’s actions were covered broadly across the county, including local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, KPBS, the San Diego Union-Tribune and Times of San Diego:
- 10News.com (Rancho Bernardo): https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/north-county-news/no-kings-protesters-return-to-san-diego-county-with-push-to-vote-early
- CBS 8: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/politics/elections/san-diego-rallies-early-voting-no-kings/509-c8685c0b-fa8a-426f-89b8-f08c8344988a
- Fox 5 San Diego: https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/no-kings-voter-events-san-diego/
- NBC 7 San Diego (Mira Mesa): https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/mira-mesa-no-kings-protesters-urge-voters-to-make-voices-heard/4088633/
- KPBS: https://www.kpbs.org/news/national/2026/10/17/no-kings-draws-crowds-with-focus-on-early-voting
- San Diego Union-Tribune: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/10/17/with-time-winding-down-to-midterms-san-diego-no-kings-rallies-push-early-voting/ (photos: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/10/17/photos-no-kings-rally-in-mira-mesa/)
- Times of San Diego: https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2026/10/17/no-kings-events-spread-around-san-diego-to-push-voter-turnout-for-november/
