The 2013–2014 San Diego mayoral special election was a special election to elect the mayor of San Diego. The election was made necessary by the resignation of Bob Filner on August 30, 2013. The winner stood to serve out the balance of Filner's term, which ended in 2016.
The election was nonpartisan, in accordance with the California Constitution, and candidates appeared on the ballot with no party affiliation, although most chose to state a political party affiliation. A primary election was held on November 19, 2013. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the first round, a runoff election was held between the top two vote-getters on February 11, 2014. In the runoff, Kevin Faulconer defeated David Alvarez.
Filner's resignation In July 2013, Filner was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Despite continuing pressure to resign, he remained in office until he and the city reached a mediated agreement in August 2013, under which he agreed to resign and the city of San Diego agreed to help pay his legal fees. According to the city charter, Todd Gloria, the president of the San Diego City Council, served as interim mayor until a new mayor was sworn into office.
Candidates Declared Mike Aguirre, former San Diego city attorney David Alvarez, San Diego city councilman Hud Collins, lawyer Bruce Coons, executive director of Save Our Heritage Organisation Harry Dirks, business administrator and realtor Kevin Faulconer, San Diego city councilman Nathan Fletcher, former state assemblyman and mayoral candidate in 2012 Michael Kemmer, student Sina "Simon" Moghadam, businessman and engineer Tobiah Pettus, construction superintendent and mayoral candidate in 2012 Lincoln Pickard, retired contractor and gun rights advocate
Declined Toni Atkins, Majority Leader of the California State Assembly and former Acting Mayor Ruben Barrales, former aide to George W. Bush, former CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Carl DeMaio, former San Diego City Councilman and mayoral candidate in 2012 (running for Congress) Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego County District Attorney and mayoral candidate in 2012 Donna Frye, former San Diego city councilwoman and mayoral candidate in 2004 and 2005 Todd Gloria, interim mayor of San Diego and president of San Diego City Council Jan Goldsmith, San Diego City Attorney Lorena Gonzalez, state assemblywoman William Gore, San Diego County Sheriff Christine Kehoe, former state senator Ron Roberts, San Diego County Supervisor and mayoral candidate in 1992, 2000, and 2004 Matt Romney, investor and son of Mitt Romney Lori Saldaña, former state assemblywoman
Special election In the special election held November 19, 2013, Kevin Faulconer received 43.6 percent of the vote and David Alvarez received 25.6 percent. The two of them advanced to a runoff election on February 11, 2014. Nathan Fletcher narrowly missed the runoff with 24.3 percent of the vote, just as he had when he previously run in the 2012 mayoral election. Mike Aguirre placed a distant fourth with 4.4 percent. The other eight candidates each received less than 1 percent of the vote each.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeAguirre DavidAlvarez KevinFaulconer NathanFletcher Other UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA November 11–14, 2013 510 ±4.4% 7% 22% 40% 24% 4% 3%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 28–31, 2013 550 ±4.3% 7% 17% 41% 28% 3% 4%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 7–10, 2013 513 ±4.4% 8% 20% 28% 32% 4% 8%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 19–23, 2013 527 ±4.4% 9% 17% 22% 30% 6% 15%
Debate + 2013–2014 San Diego mayoral special election debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Mike Aguirre David Alvarez Kevin Faulconer Nathan Fletcher1 Oct. 14, 2013 10NewsKPBSSan Diego State University School of Public Affairs Virginia ChaPeggy Pico YouTube
Results Although local elections are officially non-partisan per the California constitution, major candidates typically publicly align themselves with political parties. Therefore, political preference of candidates is indicated in the table below where it is known.
Special run-off election On February 11, 2014, Kevin Faulconer received 52.9 percent majority in the run-off vote and was elected mayor of San Diego.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KevinFaulconer DavidAlvarez UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA February 3–6, 2014 639 ± 4% 47% 46% 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA January 20–23, 2014 646 ± 3.9% 49% 44% 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 13–14, 2014 526 ± 4.3% 45% 46% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA January 4–9, 2014 800 ± 4.3% 53% 37% 10%SurveyUSASurveyUSA December 2–5, 2013 515 ± 4.4% 47% 46% 7%SurveyUSA November 11–14, 2013 510 ± 4.4% 51% 38% 11%SurveyUSA October 28–31, 2013 550 ± 4.3% 52% 36% 12%SurveyUSA October 7–10, 2013 513 ± 4.4% 44% 35% 21%SurveyUSA September 19–23, 2013 527 ± 4.4% 38% 35% 26%
With Aguirre Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MikeAguirre DavidAlvarez UndecidedSurveyUSA November 11–14, 2013 510 ± 4.4% 29% 46% 25%SurveyUSA October 28–31, 2013 550 ± 4.3% 31% 43% 26%SurveyUSA October 7–10, 2013 513 ± 4.4% 23% 46% 31%SurveyUSA September 19–23, 2013 527 ± 4.4% 32% 40% 28%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MikeAguirre KevinFaulconer UndecidedSurveyUSA November 11–14, 2013 510 ± 4.4% 28% 55% 16%SurveyUSA October 28–31, 2013 550 ± 4.3% 25% 59% 16%SurveyUSA October 7–10, 2013 513 ± 4.4% 27% 53% 20%SurveyUSA September 19–23, 2013 527 ± 4.4% 35% 42% 23%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MikeAguirre NathanFletcher UndecidedSurveyUSA November 11–14, 2013 510 ± 4.4% 30% 46% 24%SurveyUSA October 28–31, 2013 550 ± 4.3% 27% 54% 19%SurveyUSA October 7–10, 2013 513 ± 4.4% 25% 54% 20%SurveyUSA September 19–23, 201 527 ± 4.4% 23% 53% 24% With DeMaio Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CarlDeMaio NathanFletcher UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA July 16–18, 2013 564 ± 4.2% 41% 42% 16%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CarlDeMaio DonnaFrye UndecidedSurveyUSA July 16–18, 2013 564 ± 4.2% 51% 33% 16%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CarlDeMaio ToddGloria UndecidedSurveyUSA July 16–18, 2013 564 ± 4.2% 50% 29% 21% With Fletcher Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DavidAlvarez NathanFletcher UndecidedSurveyUSA November 11–14, 2013 510 ± 4.4% 38% 42% 20%SurveyUSA October 28–31, 2013 550 ± 4.3% 31% 51% 18%SurveyUSA October 7–10, 2013 513 ± 4.4% 29% 49% 22%SurveyUSA September 19–23, 2013 527 ± 4.4% 24% 52% 24%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KevinFaulconer NathanFletcher UndecidedSurveyUSA November 11–14, 2013 510 ± 4.4% 47% 38% 14%SurveyUSA October 28–31, 2013 550 ± 4.3% 46% 41% 12%SurveyUSA October 7–10, 2013 513 ± 4.4% 36% 46% 17%SurveyUSA September 19–23, 2013 527 ± 4.4% 30% 44% 26%SurveyUSA July 16–18, 2013 564 ± 4.2% 24% 50% 26% With Frye Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KevinFaulconer DonnaFrye UndecidedSurveyUSA July 16–18, 2013 564 ± 4.2% 40% 37% 23%
With Gloria Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KevinFaulconer ToddGloria UndecidedSurveyUSA July 16–18, 2013 564 ± 4.2% 36% 30% 34%
With Goldsmith Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror NathanFletcher JanGoldsmith UndecidedSurveyUSA July 16–18, 2013 564 ± 4.2% 47% 28% 25%
Results
References