2024 San Diego City Council election
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5 of the 9 seats on the San Diego City Council | |||||||||||||||||||
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The 2024 San Diego City Council election was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The primary election was held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Five of the nine council seats were up for election, with all five incumbents winning re-election. A special election was also held at the time of the primary to fill the District 4 seat vacated by Monica Montgomery Steppe, who had resigned following her election to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2023.
Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, although most members do identify a party preference. A two-round system is used for the elections, starting with primaries in March followed by runoff elections in November between the top-two candidates in each race.
Background
[edit]Seats in San Diego City Council districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 were up for election. Incumbents Joe LaCava, Stephen Whitburn, Marni von Wilpert, Raul Campillo, and Sean Elo-Rivera ran for re-election. LaCava, von Wilpert and Campillo won re-election unopposed in the March primary,[1] while Whitburn and Elo-Rivera defeated fellow Democratic challengers in the November general election.[2]
Top election issues included homelessness,[1][3][4] infrastructure deficits,[5] and housing affordability,[6] part of a broader housing crisis statewide.
Results
[edit]District 1
[edit]District 1 consists of the communities of Carmel Valley, Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Mesa, Pacific Highlands Ranch, La Jolla, Torrey Hills, Torrey Pines, University City, and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus.
Incumbent Joe LaCava ran unopposed for re-election and won the election outright in the primary on March 5, 2024.[7]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Joe LaCava (incumbent) | 24,283 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 24,283 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 3
[edit]District 3 consists of the communities of Balboa Park, Bankers Hill/Park West, Downtown, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, Little Italy, Middleton, Mission Hills, North Park, South Park, and University Heights.[1]
Incumbent Stephen Whitburn and Coleen Cusack, both Democrats, defeated two other candidates and advanced from the primary on March 5, 2024.[9] Whitburn went on to defeat Cusack in the general election.[10][2]
Candidates
[edit]Qualified
[edit]- Stephen Whitburn, San Diego City Councilmember from District 3 (2020–present)
- Coleen Cusack, public interest attorney and community activist[11]
- Kate Callen, writer and community activist
- Ellis T. California Jones III, home energy inspector and ex-felon[12]
Endorsements
[edit]- Organizations
- San Diego County Democratic Party[1][4]
- San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL–CIO[4]
- San Diego City Firefighters Association, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 145[4]
- San Diego Police Officers Association[1][4]
- San Diego County Young Democrats[13]
- San Diego Democrats for Equality
- San Diego Labor Democratic Club
- San Diego YIMBY Democratic Club
- AAPI Democratic Club of San Diego
- U.S. Representatives
- Scott Peters, U.S. Representative from California's 50th congressional district, 2008 candidate for San Diego City Attorney, and former San Diego City Councilmember from District 1 (2000-2008)[4]
- Sara Jacobs, U.S Representative from California's 51st congressional district[4]
- Local politicians
- Nora Vargas, member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (2021–present)
- Todd Gloria, 37th mayor of San Diego (2020-Present), former State Assemblymember from the 78th District (2016-2020), former San Diego City Councilmember from District 3 (2008-2016)[4]
- Joe LaCava, San Diego City Councilmember from the District 1 (2020-present)
- Jennifer Campbell, San Diego City Councilmember from District 2 (2018-present), former President of the San Diego City Council (2020-2021)
- Marni von Wilpert, San Diego City Councilmember from District 5 (2020–present)
- Raul Campillo, San Diego City Councilmember from District 7 (2020–present)
- Organizations
- Newspapers
- Local politicians
- Geneviéve Jones-Wright, 2018 candidate for San Diego County District Attorney and 2024 candidate for mayor of San Diego[4]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Stephen Whitburn (incumbent) | 17,033 | 52.4 | |
| Democratic | Coleen Cusack | 6,811 | 20.9 | |
| Democratic | Kate Callen | 5,417 | 16.7 | |
| Republican | Ellis T. California Jones III | 3,254 | 10.0 | |
| Total votes | 32,515 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Stephen Whitburn | 37,374 | 58.1 | |
| Democratic | Coleen Cusack | 26,923 | 41.9 | |
| Total votes | 64,297 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 4 Special
[edit]District 4 consists of the communities of Alta Vista, Broadway Heights, Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Greater Skyline Hills, Jamacha, Lincoln Park, Lomita Village, Mountain View, North Bay Terrace, Oak Park, O'Farrell, Paradise Hills, Ridgeview, South Bay Terrace, Valencia Park, and Webster.
Monica Montgomery Steppe, who had represented district 4 since 2018, won election to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in a special election on November 7, 2023.[16] She resigned from her seat on the city council on December 5, 2023. During the vacancy, her Chief of Staff, Henry Foster III, acted as the de facto manager of the District 4 office.
Foster won the special election on March 5, 2024, to serve the remainder of the term until 2026. His election resulted in the restoration of a 9-0 Democratic supermajority on the city council.[17]
Candidates
[edit]Qualified
[edit]- Henry Foster III, Chief of Staff to former city councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe
- Tylisa Suseberry, executive assistant in the office of State Senator Toni Atkins
- Chida Warren-Darby, Boards and Commissions Director for Mayor Todd Gloria
Endorsements
[edit]- Organizations
- Local politicians
- Monica Montgomery Steppe, member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (2023-Present), former San Diego City Councilmember from District 4 (2018-2023)[18]
- Sean Elo-Rivera, President of the San Diego City Council (2021-Present), San Diego City Councilmember from District 9 (2020-Present)[18]
- Organizations
- U.S. Representatives
- Juan Vargas, U.S. Representative from California's 52nd congressional district[18]
- Local politicians
- Todd Gloria, 37th mayor of San Diego (2020-Present), former State Assemblymember from the 78th District (2016-2020), former San Diego City Councilmember from District 3 (2008-2016)[18]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Henry Foster III | 8,840 | 53.83 | |
| Democratic | Chida Warren-Darby | 4,481 | 27.29 | |
| Democratic | Tylisa D. Suseberry | 3,100 | 18.88 | |
| Total votes | 16,421 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 5
[edit]District 5 consists of the communities of Black Mountain Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Miramar, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Encantada, Rancho Peñasquitos, Sabre Springs, San Pasqual Valley, Scripps Ranch, and Torrey Highlands.
Incumbent Marni von Wilpert ran unopposed for re-election and won the election outright in the primary on March 5, 2024.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Marni von Wilpert (incumbent) | 28,231 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 28,231 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 7
[edit]District 7 consists of the communities of Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Grantville, Linda Vista, Mission Valley, San Carlos, Serra Mesa, and Tierrasanta.
Incumbent Raul Campillo ran unopposed for re-election and won the election outright in the primary on March 5, 2024.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Raul Campillo (incumbent) | 23,196 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 23,196 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 9
[edit]District 9 consists of the communities of Kensington, Normal Heights, and East San Diego, as well as the main campus of San Diego State University.
Incumbent Sean Elo-Rivera and Terry Hoskins, both Democrats, advanced from the primary on March 5, 2024, to the general election. Elo-Rivera went on to defeat Hoskins in the general election.[2]
Candidates
[edit]Qualified
[edit]- Sean Elo-Rivera, San Diego City Council president (2021–present), San Diego City Councilmember from District 9 (2020–present)
- Terry Hoskins
- Fernando Garcia
Endorsements
[edit]- Organizations
- California Working Families Party[20]
- San Diego County Democratic Party[1]
- San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL–CIO[1]
- U.S. Representatives
- Sara Jacobs, U.S Representative from California's 51st congressional district
- Local politicians
- Monica Montgomery Steppe, member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (2023-Present), former San Diego City Councilmember from District 4 (2018-2023)[1]
- Nora Vargas, member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (2021–present)
- Todd Gloria, 37th mayor of San Diego (2020-Present), former State Assemblymember from the 78th District (2016-2020), former San Diego City Councilmember from District 3 (2008-2016)
- Joe LaCava, San Diego City Councilmember from District 1 (2020-present)
- Kent Lee, San Diego City Councilmember from District 6 (2022-present)
- Organizations
- San Diego Police Officers Association[1]
- Local politicians
- Myrtle Cole, former San Diego City Councilmember from District 4 (2008-2016)[1]
- Marti Emerald, former San Diego City Councilmember from District 7 (2008-2012) and District 9 (2012-2016)[1]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Sean Elo-Rivera (incumbent) | 10,042 | 51.9 | |
| Democratic | Terry Hoskins | 5,816 | 30.1 | |
| Independent | Fernando Garcia | 3,491 | 18.0 | |
| Total votes | 19,349 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Sean Elo-Rivera | 26,765 | 60.9 | |
| Democratic | Terry Hoskins | 17,213 | 39.1 | |
| Total votes | 43,978 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Council president
[edit]The city council will select a council president in December 2024, following the swearing in of the elected city council members. The current council president is Sean Elo-Rivera of District 9, who has served since 2021.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bowen, Andrew (October 7, 2024). "San Diego City Council races explainer". KPBS. San Diego, CA. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c Vigil, Jennifer (November 5, 2024). "Elo-Rivera, Whitburn Easily Outpace Challengers to Retain San Diego Council Seats". Times of San Diego. San Diego, CA. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ Kendall, Marisa (April 11, 2024). "Soaring Rents in San Diego Pricing Out Working Class". Cal Matters. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l City News Service (October 30, 2024). "Candidates for City Council District 3 Differ on Approach to Unsheltered". Times of San Diego. San Diego, CA. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Hessedal, Kelly (February 13, 2024). "New report reveals City of San Diego needs to find long-term funding solution for crumbling streets". CBS 8. San Diego, CA. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Abramsky, Sasha (April 4, 2024). "Soaring Rents in San Diego Pricing Out Working Class". San Diego Magazine. San Diego, CA. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Garrick, David (December 28, 2023). "Joe LaCava's run for reelection to San Diego City Council will be unopposed". Del Mar Times. Del Mar, CA. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "San Diego County Primary Election Results, March 5, 2024". April 4, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ Bowen, Andrew (March 5, 2024). "Live results: 2024 Primary Election - San Diego City Council District 3". KPBS. San Diego, CA. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ "Stephen Whitburn wins reelection in San Diego City Council District 3 race". KPBS. San Diego, CA. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Bowen, Andrew (February 5, 2024). "Primary Election 2024: San Diego City Council races". KPBS. San Diego, CA. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Stone, Ken (February 6, 2024). "Q&A With GOP's Ellis T. Jones, D3 San Diego City Council Candidate, Ex-Felon". Times of San Diego. San Diego, CA. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ "SDCYD Official Endorsements: 2024 Primary Election Endorsements". SDCYD - Young Gets it Done. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board (February 17, 2024). "Coleen Cusack for San Diego City Council, District 3". The San Diego Union-Tribune. San Diego, CA. Retrieved July 15, 2024. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "San Diego County Live Election Results". San Diego County Registrar of Voters. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Bowen, Andrew (November 7, 2023). "Montgomery Steppe wins District 4 County Supervisor race". KPBS. San Diego, CA. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "Henry Foster III wins San Diego City Council District 4 seat outright". KPBS. San Diego, CA. March 15, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Safchik, Joey (February 20, 2024). "3 candidates vie for San Diego City Council District 4 seat in the 2024 Election". NBC7 San Diego. San Diego, CA. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ "SDCYD Official Endorsements: 2024 Primary Election Endorsements". SDCYD - Young Gets it Done. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Working Families Party California 2024 Endorsements". Bluevoterguide.org. Retrieved November 8, 2024.