The City of San Diego operates under a strong mayor-council form of government, where the Mayor acts as the city's chief executive and the City Council as its legislative body. The separation of powers within this framework allows for a clear delineation of responsibilities: the Mayor oversees administrative functions and the City Council enacts ordinances, budgets, and policies.
San Diego's City Council is composed of nine members, each representing one of the city's nine districts. These council members are elected through a two-round system in non-partisan elections, which ensures that candidates who proceed to the general election are those who receive the highest votes in the primary, regardless of whether any candidate achieves an outright majority. This electoral system is structured to enhance fairness and encourage broad representation. Council members serve four-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms, a rule designed to foster new leadership and ideas within the council.
Elections are synchronized with the general election cycle, with primary elections held in March and general elections in November of even-numbered years. This timing aligns with larger electoral processes to facilitate voter participation.
Recent redistricting, following the latest census, reflects efforts to ensure equitable representation, adjusting district boundaries to account for population changes and shifts. This process is critical for maintaining a balanced representation that mirrors the city's diverse demographic and geographic makeup.
Term limits and the staggered term structure further aim to maintain a dynamic and responsive City Council, by preventing long-term incumbency and ensuring continuity in governance. This governance structure, alongside the electoral process and recent redistricting efforts, forms the backbone of San Diego's approach to local governance, emphasizing democratic engagement and representation.
District | Incumbent | Term Expires | Registration Advantage | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
City Council, 1st District | Joe LaCava (D) | 2024 | D +19.66% | ||
City Council, 2nd District | Jennifer Campbell (D) | 2026 | D +19.80% | ||
City Council, 3rd District | Stephen Whitburn (D) | 2024 | D +44.33% | ||
City Council, 4th District | Henry Foster (D) | 2026 | D +32.12% | ||
City Council, 5th District | Marni Von Wilpert (D) | 2024 | D +9.99% | ||
City Council, 6th District | Kent Lee (D) | 2026 | D +21.52% | ||
City Council, 7th District | Raul Campillo (D) | 2024 | D +20.70% | ||
City Council, 8th District | Vivian Moreno (D) | 2026 | D +33.77% | ||
City Council, 9th District | Sean Elo-Rivera (D) | 2024 | D +39.84% | ||
City Attorney | Mara Elliott (D) | 2024 | D +26.16% | ||
Mayor | Todd Gloria (D) | 2024 | D +26.16% |
Total Voters | DEM | REP | OTHER | MARGIN |
---|---|---|---|---|
796,008 | 47.03% | 20.87% | 32.10% | D +26.16% |
Election | DEM | REP | Margin | Turnout |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Gubernatorial | Newsom - 65.14% | Dahle - 34.86% | D +30.3% | |
2020 Presidential | Biden - 68.53% | Trump - 29.12% | D +39.41% | 82.90% |
2018 Gubernatorial | Newsom - 65.81% | Cox - 34.19% | D +31.62% | 43.92% |
2016 Presidential | Clinton - 64.8% | Trump - 27.55% | D +37.25% | 80.54% |
2014 Gubernatorial | Brown - 60.0% | Kashkari - 40.0% | D +20.00% | 44.41% |
2012 Presidential | Obama - 61.04% | Romney - 36.28% | D +24.76% | 76.26% |
Ballot Item | Description | Yes | No | Margin | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prop 51 (2016) | School Facility Bonds | 58.39% | 41.61% | 16.78% | |
Prop 62 (2016) | Death Penalty Repeal | 49.51% | 50.49% | -0.98% | |
Prop 6 (2018) | Gas Tax Repeal | 42.12% | 57.88% | -15.76% | |
Prop 15 (2020) | Prop 13 Split-Roll | 50.73% | 49.27% | 1.47% | |
Prop 16 (2020) | Repeal Affirmative Action | 46.48% | 53.52% | -7.05% | |
Prop 21 (2020) | Allow Local Rent Control | 43.16% | 56.84% | -13.69% |