San Diego Council District 9: Council President Expected to Fend Off Challenger with Little Effort This November

SDCC9
Published: 15 Sep, 2024
Updated: 17 Sep, 2024
4 min read

Sean Elo-Rivera is running for re-election to represent the residents of District 9 in the City of San Diego. While he faces a challenger in Terry Hoskins, this is not expected to be a competitive race.

In San Diego, No Party Preference voters (NPPs) outnumber Republican voters – 24% to 22% – with Democratic registered voters accounting for 47% of the voting population. Both Elo-Rivera and Hoskins are Democrats, but it’s the former who has the clear advantage of incumbency, name ID, endorsements and more.

“I am running for City Council because District 9 has been unrepresentative for the past seven-plus years,” Hoskins told the San Diego Union-Tribune in February. 

“As a retired community relations officer, I know firsthand the struggles of our neighbors with City Hall and the potential our communities have to offer. I know the serious issues we face, from public safety, homelessness, housing, growing our local economy and bringing our communities together. My leadership experience in the U.S. Marine Corps, community relations experiences with the San Diego Police Department and academic experiences as I worked to get my Ph.D. in public administration make me uniquely qualified to serve you on your City Council.”

Elo-Rivera told the newspaper: “I am running for reelection because my work with the community is not done. I am the best candidate because I have proven to be an effective leader who fights to transform community ideals into legislative results.”

“I advanced housing stability by leading on and passing the Tenant Protection Ordinance and spearheading the creation of the Housing Instability Prevention Fund. I have been the most consistent supporter of policy that expands housing opportunity while demanding more inclusive development. I also stayed true to my commitment to prioritize racial justice, have challenged continued policing inequities and have never cowered from our city’s biggest issues. I will continue to make meaningful, significant changes in my second term.”

A progressive Democrat with a strong base of support, look for Elo-Rivera to try and persuade undecided and NPP voters to support his candidacy. Political insiders believe he has ambitions beyond City Council and if so he will need to appeal to a wider portion of the electorate.

Hoskins: The Veteran Marine Challenger

Hoskins

The first in his family to graduate high school and the only child to attend a university, Hoskins enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1983 and served with distinction until retiring as Sergeant Major in September 2008, according to his campaign website. 

He then joined the San Diego Police Department as an officer and in 2013 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award and the Lifesaving Medal for actions involving the shooting of a fellow officer by an armed-and-dangerous felony fugitive.

IVP Donate

His campaign is focused on no new taxes, reducing homelessness, housing, and public safety.

“San Diego has spent millions on this issue, worsening the (homeless) situation. Housing first needs to be (followed by) shelter first,” Hoskins said. “Shelter first, enroll in dependency programs, and then successfully transition into housing with the ability to be successful.”

Elo-Rivera: The Incumbent Council President

Elo-Rivera

Sean’s number one priority for his second term is taking on the cost-of-living crisis that is making it so tough for so many San Diegans to get by,” his campaign website says.

 “From housing costs to groceries and child care, Sean is working to make San Diego more affordable and provide every neighborhood with the respect of quality city services.”

He is endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood, labor groups, gun violence prevention groups, and others.

The City Council recently unanimously elected Elo-Rivera to serve a second term as City Council President. The platform makes him the second most powerful person at City Hall.

“I am proud of the City Council’s work the past year and I look forward to continuing to serve as Council President to ensure we, collectively, are doing all we can to better the lives of our constituents,” Elo-Rivera said.

What’s at Stake?

A win by Hoskins, while unlikely, would not change the partisan power dynamics of the City Council because he and Elo-Rivera are both Democrats, but Mayor Todd Gloria could find an ally in Hoskins were he to win. Elo-Rivera, who sets the council agenda as president, is not always on the same side of issues as Mayor Gloria. 

Let Us Vote : Sign Now!

Elo-Rivera is seeking a second 4-year term that he is expected to win without much of a fight.

Related articles

homelessness in California
Clearing Homeless Encampments Is a Band-Aid, Not A Solution
Last July, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order “to address (homeless) encampments” and allocated funding to local governments to clear encampments and connect “those living in them to housing and supportive services.” ...
20 Jun, 2025
-
3 min read
San Diego county building with the caption San Diego Could Have Saved $4+ Million
More Choice Voting Would Have Saved San Diego $4.6 Million in County Supervisor Special Election
South Bay voters are navigating a monsoon of negative, and often misleading, political ads tied to the July 1 runoff election for San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors. But here’s the kicker: taxpayers are footing a $4.6 million bill for this completely unnecessary second round of voting....
03 Jun, 2025
-
2 min read
South Bay Could Decide The Future of San Diego
John McCann vs. Paloma Aguirre: Why South Bay Voters Could Decide the Balance of Power in San Diego
It’s springtime in a non-election year. A time to decompress from political commentary, prep for Fourth of July parties, and gear up for summer vacations. But a funny thing happened on the way to sun and fun, in one of the world’s most desirable vacation spots: San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas, re-elected by voters just last fall, unexpectedly resigned shortly thereafter....
22 May, 2025
-
2 min read

Latest articles

Elon Musk
Musk vs The Duopoly: Will the America Party Succeed Where Others Have Failed?
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, and former Director of the Department of Government Efficiency, has officially launched the America Party, framing it as a challenge to what he calls a “one-party system” dominated by wasteful government spending....
07 Jul, 2025
-
5 min read
CA capitol building dome with flags.
Why is CA Senator Mike McGuire Trying to Kill the Legal Cannabis Industry?
California’s legal cannabis industry is under mounting pressure, and in early June, state lawmakers and the governor appeared poised to help. A bill to freeze the state’s cannabis excise tax at 15% sailed through the State Assembly with a unanimous 74-0 vote. The governor’s office backed the plan. And legal cannabis businesses, still struggling to compete with unregulated sellers and mounting operating costs, saw a glimmer of hope....
03 Jul, 2025
-
7 min read
I voted buttons
After First RCV Election, Charlottesville Voters Back the Reform: 'They Get It, They Like It, They Want to Do It Again'
A new survey out of Charlottesville, Virginia, shows overwhelming support for ranked choice voting (RCV) following the city’s first use of the system in its June Democratic primary for City Council. Conducted one week after the election, the results found that nearly 90% of respondents support continued use of RCV....
03 Jul, 2025
-
3 min read