2013–2014 San Diego mayoral special election explained

Election Name:	2013–2014 San Diego mayoral special election
Flag Image:	Flag of San Diego, California.svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 San Diego mayoral election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2016 San Diego mayoral election
Next Year:	2016
Election Date:	November 19, 2013 and February 11, 2014
1Blank:	Vote
2Blank:	Percentage
Image1:	File:Kevin Faulconer Portrait (1).jpg
Candidate1:	Kevin Faulconer
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
1Data1:	153,491
2Data1:	52.9%
Candidate2:	David Alvarez
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
1Data2:	136,701
2Data2:	47.1%
Map Size:	180px
Mayor
Before Election:	Todd Gloria (acting)
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Kevin Faulconer
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

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.^[1] The winner stood to serve out the balance of Filner's term, which ended in 2016.^[2]

The election was nonpartisan, in accordance with the California Constitution,^[3] and candidates appeared on the ballot with no party affiliation, although most chose to state a political party affiliation.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

Candidates

Declared

Mike Aguirre, former San Diego city attorney^[8]
David Alvarez, San Diego city councilman^[8]
Hud Collins, lawyer^[8]
Bruce Coons, executive director of Save Our Heritage Organisation^[8]
Harry Dirks, business administrator and realtor^[8]
Kevin Faulconer, San Diego city councilman^[8]
Nathan Fletcher, former state assemblyman and mayoral candidate in 2012^[8]
Michael Kemmer, student^[8]
Sina "Simon" Moghadam, businessman and engineer^[8]
Tobiah Pettus, construction superintendent and mayoral candidate in 2012^[8]
Lincoln Pickard, retired contractor and gun rights advocate^[8]

Declined

Toni Atkins, Majority Leader of the California State Assembly and former Acting Mayor^[9]
Ruben Barrales, former aide to George W. Bush, former CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce^[10]
Carl DeMaio, former San Diego City Councilman and mayoral candidate in 2012 (running for Congress)^[11]
Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego County District Attorney and mayoral candidate in 2012^[9]
Donna Frye, former San Diego city councilwoman and mayoral candidate in 2004 and 2005^[9]
Todd Gloria, interim mayor of San Diego and president of San Diego City Council^[12]
Jan Goldsmith, San Diego City Attorney^[9]
Lorena Gonzalez, state assemblywoman^[10]
William Gore, San Diego County Sheriff^[10]
Christine Kehoe, former state senator^[9]
Ron Roberts, San Diego County Supervisor and mayoral candidate in 1992, 2000, and 2004
Matt Romney, investor and son of Mitt Romney^[13]
Lori Saldaña, former state assemblywoman^[10]

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.^[14]

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	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Kevin Faulconer	David Alvarez	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	February 3–6, 2014	align=center	639	align=center	± 4%	align=center	47%	align=center	46%	align=center	7%
SurveyUSA	align=center	January 20–23, 2014	align=center	646	align=center	± 3.9%	align=center	49%	align=center	44%	align=center	7%
Public Policy Polling	align=center	January 13–14, 2014	align=center	526	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	45%	align=center	46%	align=center	9%
SurveyUSA	align=center	January 4–9, 2014	align=center	800	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	53%	align=center	37%	align=center	10%
SurveyUSA	align=center	December 2–5, 2013	align=center	515	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	47%	align=center	46%	align=center	7%
SurveyUSA	align=center	November 11–14, 2013	align=center	510	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	51%	align=center	38%	align=center	11%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 28–31, 2013	align=center	550	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	52%	align=center	36%	align=center	12%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 7–10, 2013	align=center	513	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	44%	align=center	35%	align=center	21%
SurveyUSA	align=center	September 19–23, 2013	align=center	527	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	38%	align=center	35%	align=center	26%

With Aguirre

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Aguirre	David Alvarez	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	November 11–14, 2013	align=center	510	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	29%	align=center	46%	align=center	25%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 28–31, 2013	align=center	550	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	31%	align=center	43%	align=center	26%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 7–10, 2013	align=center	513	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	23%	align=center	46%	align=center	31%
SurveyUSA	align=center	September 19–23, 2013	align=center	527	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	32%	align=center	40%	align=center	28%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Aguirre	Kevin Faulconer	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	November 11–14, 2013	align=center	510	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	28%	align=center	55%	align=center	16%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 28–31, 2013	align=center	550	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	25%	align=center	59%	align=center	16%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 7–10, 2013	align=center	513	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	27%	align=center	53%	align=center	20%
SurveyUSA	align=center	September 19–23, 2013	align=center	527	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	35%	align=center	42%	align=center	23%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Aguirre	Nathan Fletcher	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	November 11–14, 2013	align=center	510	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	30%	align=center	46%	align=center	24%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 28–31, 2013	align=center	550	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	27%	align=center	54%	align=center	19%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 7–10, 2013	align=center	513	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	25%	align=center	54%	align=center	20%
SurveyUSA	align=center	September 19–23, 201	align=center	527	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	23%	align=center	53%	align=center	24%

With DeMaio

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Carl DeMaio	Nathan Fletcher	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	July 16–18, 2013	align=center	564	align=center	± 4.2%	align=center	41%	align=center	42%	align=center	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Carl DeMaio	Donna Frye	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	July 16–18, 2013	align=center	564	align=center	± 4.2%	align=center	51%	align=center	33%	align=center	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Carl DeMaio	Todd Gloria	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	July 16–18, 2013	align=center	564	align=center	± 4.2%	align=center	50%	align=center	29%	align=center	21%

With Fletcher

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	David Alvarez	Nathan Fletcher	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	November 11–14, 2013	align=center	510	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	38%	align=center	42%	align=center	20%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 28–31, 2013	align=center	550	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	31%	align=center	51%	align=center	18%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 7–10, 2013	align=center	513	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	29%	align=center	49%	align=center	22%
SurveyUSA	align=center	September 19–23, 2013	align=center	527	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	24%	align=center	52%	align=center	24%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Kevin Faulconer	Nathan Fletcher	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	November 11–14, 2013	align=center	510	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	47%	align=center	38%	align=center	14%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 28–31, 2013	align=center	550	align=center	± 4.3%	align=center	46%	41%	align=center	12%
SurveyUSA	align=center	October 7–10, 2013	align=center	513	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	36%	align=center	46%	align=center	17%
SurveyUSA	align=center	September 19–23, 2013	align=center	527	align=center	± 4.4%	align=center	30%	align=center	44%	align=center	26%
SurveyUSA	align=center	July 16–18, 2013	align=center	564	align=center	± 4.2%	align=center	24%	align=center	50%	align=center	26%

With Frye

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Kevin Faulconer	Donna Frye	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	July 16–18, 2013	align=center	564	align=center	± 4.2%	align=center	40%	align=center	37%	align=center	23%

With Gloria

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Kevin Faulconer	Todd Gloria	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	July 16–18, 2013	align=center	564	align=center	± 4.2%	align=center	36%	align=center	30%	align=center	34%

With Goldsmith

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Nathan Fletcher	Jan Goldsmith	Undecided
SurveyUSA	align=center	July 16–18, 2013	align=center	564	align=center	± 4.2%	align=center	47%	align=center	28%	align=center	25%

Results

Notes and References

News: Special election to replace Filner set for November 19 . August 28, 2013 . KFMB-TV . August 30, 2013 . August 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170801032700/http://www.cbs8.com/story/23278149/developing-city-council-to-decide-on-special-election-date . live.
News: Kevin Faulconer elected next mayor of San Diego, will finish Filner's term. February 12, 2014 . San Diego 6 – the CW . 16 February 2014. February 22, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222004217/http://www.sandiego6.com/story/kevin-faulconer-elected-next-mayor-of-san-diego-will-finish-filner-s-term-20140212 . live.
Web site: California Constitution Art. 2 Sec. 6 . State of California . February 14, 2014 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101008203818/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_2 . October 8, 2010 . mdy-all.
Web site: Republican Kevin Faulconer Wins Mayoral Race in San Diego . February 12, 2014 . Michael . Warren . www.weeklystandard.com . February 12, 2014 . February 22, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040653/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/republican-kevin-faulconer-wins-mayoral-race-san-diego_781494.html . live.
Web site: Council sets Feb. 11 for special mayoral election. Re-elects Gloria as Council president . Neal . Puttnam . December 19, 2013 . . December 20, 2013 . July 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140706053516/http://lgbtweekly.com/2013/12/19/council-sets-feb-11-for-special-mayoral-election/ . dead.
Web site: Perry . Tony . Bob Filner to resign as part of a sexual harassment lawsuit deal . Los Angeles Times . August 22, 2013 . August 23, 2013 . August 23, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130823135445/http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-filner-20130823,0,6836106.story . live .
Web site: Fry . Wendy . San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to Resign | NBC 7 San Diego . Nbcsandiego.com . July 22, 2013 . August 23, 2013 . August 22, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130822192759/http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Mayor-Bob-Filner-to-Resign-220675401.html . live .
News: 11 qualify for ballot in SD mayor's race. September 24, 2013. UT San Diego. September 24, 2013.
Web site: San Diego Mayor: Who's In, Who's Out, Who's Undecided? . KPBS . August 26, 2013 . August 28, 2013 . August 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130827131041/http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/aug/26/san-diego-mayor-whos-whos-out-whos-undecided/ . live .
Web site: Jessica Taylor . What's next after Filner, and what his resignation means for control of Congress – First Read . Firstread.nbcnews.com . August 23, 2013 . August 26, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130826072955/http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/23/20154107-whats-next-after-filner-and-what-his-resignation-means-for-control-of-congress . live .
News: Carl DeMaio won't run for mayor of San Diego. September 3, 2013. The Washington Post. September 3, 2013. October 22, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131022012435/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/03/carl-demaio-wont-run-for-mayor-of-san-diego/. live.
News: Former Councilman Carl DeMaio, Supervisor Ron Roberts will not run for San Diego mayor. September 3, 2013. ABC 10 News. September 3, 2013. December 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005130/http://www.10news.com/news/local-politicians-expected-to-make-announcements-on-bids-for-san-diego-mayor-todd-gloria-carl-demaio-090313. live.
News: Matt Romney, Mitt's son, decides not to run for mayor of San Diego . . August 30, 2013 . August 31, 2013 . August 31, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130831135837/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-matt-romney-san-diego-mayor-20130830,0,1012920.story . live .
News: San Diego mayor race: Alvarez, Faulconer expected to meet in runoff. November 19, 2013. ABC 10 News. November 20, 2013. December 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203091734/http://www.10news.com/news/special-election-2013-san-diego-mayor-race-results-11192013. live.