2026 San Diego mayoral race
San Diego's 2026 mayoral race is a contested open-seat election following the retirement of long-serving Mayor Ron Morrison. The leading candidates, Marcus Bush and Jose Rodriguez, are both Democrats with differing visions. Rodriguez, backed by organized labor, proposes new revenue sources including a possible business tax hike to solve the budget crisis and boost homeownership. Bush emphasizes broad coalition-building with business interests. Candidates Richard Bailey (former Republican) and Nicole Crosby are also running for council seats, with Bailey pushing for wholesale reform and tax cuts.
Which approach should San Diego's next mayor take to address the city's budget and housing challenges?
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Sources
Voice of San Diego — https://voiceofsandiego.org/2026/10/05/voice-of-san-diegos-no-bs-2026-voter-guide
Rodriguez has support from San Diego County's organized labor movement and says he'll boost home ownership opportunities and solve the city's budget crisis by finding new sources of revenue, including a possible business tax hike. Bush says he will continue Morrison's legacy by working with a cross-section of residents, including business interests, to solve the city's problems.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Elect a labor-backed mayor who will raise business taxes to fund services and expand affordable homeownership.
- Elect a mayor who blends new revenue tools with coalition-building to address the budget and housing shortage.
- Elect a mayor who works across business and community interests to solve problems without major tax increases.
- Elect a reform-minded mayor who stops new taxes and fees and cuts staffing to stabilize city finances.
- Elect a fiscally conservative mayor who prioritizes deep spending cuts, deregulation, and smaller city government.