Palm Springs City Council has decided to keep the November election for District 2, despite Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein being the only candidate currently qualified for the ballot. The decision means the city will spend an estimated $22,000 to hold an election that, at least for now, has only one candidate.
The Council had the option of appointing Bernstein to another four-year term and eliminating the cost of the election. Instead, councilmembers chose to let voters have their say. Bernstein abstained from the vote.
The decision has sparked a familiar debate in Palm Springs and across the Coachella Valley: Is holding an election worth the cost when there is only one candidate?
Jerry Granata, an educational and sales director and contributor to the Roggin Report, said he supports keeping the election because of the importance of the democratic process.
“I’m a firm believer in the democratic process,” Granata said, pointing to a similar situation in 2020, when Lisa Middleton ran unopposed and the council also chose to hold an election.
Granata also questioned whether a city council should have the authority to cancel an election involving one of its own members, saying he would rather see the race go before voters to avoid even the appearance of improper influence.
Artist and creator Drewvy took a different view, suggesting the expense could seem wasteful when there is only one candidate. If that candidate receives the vote, Drewvy noted, the outcome is essentially predetermined.
Still, the election will move forward, giving Palm Springs voters the opportunity to participate. Write-in candidates may also qualify between September 7 and October 20, meaning the District 2 race could potentially look different before Election Day.
For Palm Springs taxpayers, the issue comes down to a simple question: Is $22,000 a reasonable price to preserve the right to vote, even when there is only one candidate?
For Granata, the answer is yes. For others, the question is whether taxpayer money could be better spent elsewhere.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
August 20, 2026
