Could an Independent Candidate Win Big City Mayor’s Race?

Turner
Photo taken from Larry Turner's Facebook Page
Created: 25 Sep, 2024
1 min read

A lifelong nonpartisan candidate is making a serious run for mayor of San Diego against the incumbent Democrat in a left-leaning city.

Retired US Marine Lt. Colonel and now San Diego Police Department officer Larry Turner is in a tough general election campaign against incumbent Mayor Todd Gloria, a career politician who previously served 8 years on the San Diego City Council and 4 years in the California State Assembly before being elected mayor in 2020.

A recent poll by San Diego’s ABC affiliate found the race for mayor of the 8th latest city in the US to be closer than many pundits expected, with Gloria at 34% and Turner at 33% and about 30% undecided between them.

Turner survived the primary election where Gloria only received 49.9% to Turner’s 23%. Three other candidates split the remainder of the votes.

The City of San Diego’s voter registration leans Democratic: 46.6% of the city’s nearly 800,000 voters are Democrats, but nonaffiliated voters make up 24.8% of registered voters, more than the 21.4% registered as Republicans. 

The runoff election will be on November 5 but early mail-in ballots will be sent to voters beginning on October 8.

The winner of the election will take office in December

Related articles

SDAttorney
San Diego City Attorney: Will Independents and Republicans Go With the Experienced Leader or the Chief Deputy City Attorney?
They’re both attorneys and they’re both Democrats, but beyond that Brian Maienschein and Heather Fer...
15 Sep, 2024
-
5 min read
SDCC3
San Diego Council District 3: Can a Democratic Homeless Advocate Unseat the Democratic Incumbent?
is an attorney and homeless advocate challenging Councilmember <...
14 Sep, 2024
-
3 min read
SDCC9
San Diego Council District 9: Council President Expected to Fend Off Challenger with Little Effort This November
is running for re-election to represent the residents of District 9 in the City of San Diego. While...
15 Sep, 2024
-
4 min read

Latest articles

A person cuffed.
With 10 Million Votes, Proposition 36 Takes Effect in California, Ushering in New Approach to Drug and Theft Crimes
In November 2024, California voters in all 58 counties approved Proposition 36, known as the "Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act," with approximately 68.4% in favor. ​ ...
24 Mar, 2025
-
3 min read
A trade port with ships and cranes.
Who Wins a Trade War? Not Independent Voters
By focusing on long-term economic stability and sound leadership, rather than short-term political victory, independent voters want sustainable solutions that benefit both businesses and workers....
24 Mar, 2025
-
3 min read
US Capitol building with American flag.
DOGEfight: Why Democrats Should Steal the GOP's Efficiency Playbook
A new front opened up in the Democrats' war against themselves when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer backed a Republican-led budget deal to avoid a government shutdown, prompting outrage from House Democrats, threats of a primary challenge from AOC, and renewed questions about who actually leads the Democratic Party....
24 Mar, 2025
-
1 min read