California State Assemblymember Todd Gloria Announces Run for San Diego Mayor

California State Assemblymember Todd Gloria announced his campaign to run for mayor of San Diego on January 9. His announcement makes him the second person to run, behind Councilwoman Barbara Bry. The election will take place on November 3, 2020.

“As a native San Diegan, it’s clear to me that San Diego needs strong, experienced, and progressive leadership in the Mayor’s Office to tackle the long-standing problems facing our city,” says a statement on his campaign website.

Gloria, a Democrat, is the current majority whip of the state assembly and represents UC San Diego, La Jolla, Clairemont, Hillcrest, and Coronado. Gloria has championed housing affordability throughout his career and served as housing commissioner from 2005–08.

Gloria was elected to the San Diego City Council in 2008 and served as the chair of the budget and government efficiency committee and the transportation committee. He was elected president of the city council in 2012 and served until he was ousted in 2014 after many city council members became upset with some of his policies.

He was ousted as city council president despite the support of over 30 speakers and a large turnout of supporters, according to KPBS. His ousting allegedly occurred because several city council members preferred a more moderate president.

In 2013, after Bob Filner resigned due to allegations of sexual misconduct, Gloria stepped in as interim mayor of San Diego until current Mayor Kevin Faulconer was sworn in March 2014.

As interim mayor and city council president, Gloria introduced a proposal to increase minimum wage, which was later vetoed by Mayor Faulconer and overridden. He introduced a climate action plan to make San Diego switch to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 and increase access to public transit. The plan was approved unanimously in 2015.

Gloria was elected to the state assembly in 2016 and continues to advocate for housing affordability, gun control, and infrastructure improvements. Gloria has had 13 pieces of legislation passed and signed by former Governor Jerry Brown, including a bill requiring the UC system to create new policy surrounding the repatriation of indigenous remains.

Furthermore, as an ally of Moms Demand Action, Gloria passed a gun control bill in the most recent session to increase training requirements for concealed carry.

If elected mayor, Gloria, of Filipino, Dutch, Puerto Rican, and Native American descent, will become the first openly gay man and first person of color to become mayor of San Diego.

Ethan Edward Coston is an Assistant News Editor for The Triton. You can follow him @Ethan4Books.