San Diego City Council races

Four San Diego City Council races on the ballot could significantly change the city's legislative body, with two incumbents seeking reelection and two seats open.

What to know about San Diego City Council District 2 race

Who is running for San Diego City Council District 2?

In District 2, former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey faces Deputy City Attorney Nicole Crosby. Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell is termed out.

Bailey, a former Republican who changed his registration in February and is running as "no party preference," won the June primary with 35% of the vote.

The two Democratic candidates, Crosby and Josh Coyne, together received about 47% of the vote.

Who does San Diego City Council District 2 represent?

District 2 represents residents in Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Mission Bay, Midway, Bay Park and Clairemont.

Where do the District 2 candidates stand on top issues?

Richard Bailey's platform includes balancing the budget, changing accessory dwelling unit regulations to prevent density in residential neighborhoods, and fixing city streets and infrastructure.

"A financially stable, high-performing, responsive city government is not a partisan position, it is a reasonable expectation shared by all San Diegans," Bailey's website says.

Nicole Crosby has some of the same priorities as Bailey. She wants to prioritize affordability, public safety, and infrastructure improvements, according to her site.

She has criticized decisions at City Hall and by Gloria, including the rollout of single-family trash fees and a permitting process for short-term vacation rentals spearheaded by Campbell. Crosby has said she wants to scrutinize city spending and audit existing contracts.

What to know about San Diego City Council District 4 race

Who is running for San Diego City Council District 4?

In District 4, incumbent Henry Foster III is facing a challenge from NICU nurse Martha Abraham.

Who does San Diego City Council District 4 represent?

District 4 represents Paradise Hills, Lincoln Park, Encanto and Oak Park.

Where do the District 4 candidates stand on top issues?

Both candidates have criticized the mayor's administration on several fronts.

Foster led efforts to end the city's use of Flock license plate-reading technology. He sought to defund the contract during the June budget process and, in October, tried to bring the issue before the full council.

His platform includes making it easier to start businesses in economically disadvantaged communities and increasing park space and youth programs.

Abraham seeks to make her distance from City Hall an advantage with voters.

She plans to bring a public health perspective to city planning and governance, particularly in the historically Black and underfunded District 4. She has criticized Gloria's policies, saying they have not helped provide high-paying jobs, affordable housing and reliable infrastructure.

What to know about San Diego City Council District 6 race

Who is running for San Diego City Council District 6?

In District 6, incumbent Kent Lee faces Republican Mark Powell for the seat.

Who does San Diego City Council District 6 represent?

District 6 represents Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa, Miramar, Scripps Ranch, University City and Sorrento Valley.

Where do the District 6 candidates stand on top issues?

Lee, the council's president pro tempore, has focused on fiscal transparency and accountability, infrastructure and improvements to community spaces.

He says a second term would continue those efforts, with a focus on homebuilding, small-business growth, reliable neighborhood services such as libraries and community centers, and support for first responders.

Powell wants to restore free parking in Balboa Park, reduce or repeal the trash tax, make homebuilding easier, oppose new taxes and make it more difficult to build ADUs in existing neighborhoods.

He wants to keep parks and neighborhood programs free or affordable, and increase public safety through community-oriented policing, mental health services and fire abatement.

What to know about San Diego City Council District 8 race

Who is running for San Diego City Council District 8?

In District 8, termed-out Councilwoman Vivian Moreno will be replaced by either her current chief of staff, Gerardo Ramirez, or San Ysidro School District board member Antonio Martinez.

Who does San Diego City Council District 8 represent?

District 8 has two sections connected by a narrow strip crossing San Diego Bay. The northern section includes Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights and Shelltown. The southern section includes San Ysidro, Egger Highlands and Otay Mesa.

Where do the District 8 candidates stand on top issues?

Both candidates are Democrats.

Martinez says he wants to increase the district's visibility at City Hall. His priorities include addressing homelessness through cooperation among the city, community organizations, developers and social service providers.

He also wants to support labor and higher wages, streamline affordable housing development, pave roads and develop open space in the district.

Ramirez's platform includes building housing and increasing first-time homeownership through assistance programs, listening more to residents on infrastructure fixes, increasing accountability for homelessness programs and speeding up responses to streetlight outages, potholes and other basic repairs.