A look back the Morongo Valley Pet Mayor Election brings us to the present with a challenging new candidate
Formerly known as the Morongo Valley Dog Mayor Election when it was open only to canines, the annual mayoral race began in 2022, when All American Fuel and Food’s local favorite shopdog Roxy would win her first election. Former Morongo Valley Fire Chief James Brakebill swore Roxy into office and deputized her opponents, setting a standard for years to follow.
Though some standards would be broken the following year in 2023, when local goat owners spoke up and demanded the race be extended to their hoofs and horns. While the election agreed to allow more diverse candidates, Roxy would still win the election by a landslide.
2024 saw the election’s first substantial controversy when Ziggy the Chicken entered the race. And while there were no official rules barring a chicken from the election, his constituents waited until the last minute to cast their votes when it appeared Roxy would win for her third year, causing a sudden upset to the status quo when Ziggy was sworn in as Morongo Valley’s first chicken mayor.
Sadly, Ziggy would also bring the election’s first tragedy, when he passed away suddenly that following August, leaving former mayor Roxy to return to her mayoral seat for the remainder of Ziggy’s term. For the 2025 election, which featured stiff competition from Charlie the Pig and Scales the Snake, Roxy was officially voted in to keep her seat, though election organizer Buddy Stogner would instate term limits as a result.
Which brings us to the present 2026 Morongo Valley Pet Mayor Election, where longtime favorite Roxy will be respectfully passing her seat to the most deserving dog, cat, snake, or…rock?
You heard that correctly: Pedro the pet Rock has entered the 2026 Pet Mayor Election. Pedro’s team says he was born in the dirt behind a Joshua Tree on a windy Morongo Valley day. But he isn’t just any rock: he’s a Mojave Weird Original, born in the desert and made to stand out. Pedro’s originality and will to take risks is placing him as an early favorite, but with just days before the polls close, time will tell if he can beat dogs like Mini, Freyja, Mollie, Precious, and Stormy; a cat named Cheddar, or an albino snake named Marshmallow. While Pedro’s team said he was technically available for comment, they believe his down to earth presence speaks for itself.
Each vote costs $1 with all proceeds going to the Morongo Valley Softball League. Election results will be announced in person next Saturday, October 3 at the Morongo Valley Halloween Extravaganza in Covington Park.
