Five individuals have expressed their intent to run for the Palm Springs City Council, aiming to fill the seats of Christy Holstege and Lisa Middleton. The Desert Sun reports that these two long-standing council members have declared their intention to seek state offices.
The Desert Sun has reported that Joe Jackson, a former member of the Palm Springs Sustainability Commission, and David Rios, a local businessman, will vie for District 4. This seat is currently occupied by Holstege. Both candidates submitted the necessary documents in 2022. Ernest Ceceña, chair of the Tahquitz Creek Golf Neighborhood, and Alix Nassiri are also set to compete for Holstege’s position. At present, only one candidate has indicated an interest in running for District 5, which is Middleton's seat.
Holstege's campaign website reveals that she is a civil rights attorney who plans to run for Assembly District 47. This district encompasses Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Since 2017, she has served as a city council member and was appointed mayor in 2020.
Middleton's campaign website states that she too has been serving on the Palm Springs City Council since 2017 and is now running for Senate District 19. This district includes several of Coachella Valley’s largest cities.
According to the City of Palm Springs' official website, Middleton was appointed as mayor in December 2021. Her appointment marked a significant milestone as she became the third transgender person in the United States to serve as a city mayor and the first transgender person to hold this position in California.