San Diego Becomes Ground Zero in Presidential Contests (For a Few Days, Anyway)

As May slides into June, enthusiasm about election contests big and small is sweeping San Diego. Hope, an elusive feeling in an era of pessimism, is in the air.

Democrats Senator Bernie Sanders and ex-President Bill Clinton both campaigned in the area. Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump is holding a rally at the Convention Center on Friday, prompting promises of protests from activists throughout the region.

Away from the bright lights and big crowds, campaigning for local offices has reached a fevered pitch. Democrats, environmentalists, and organized labor are providing volunteers, who are going door-to-door in City Council contests, backing up direct mail campaigns. Republicans are carpet bombing the city with money for TV ads, slick  (and often questionable) mailers and paid canvassers.   [Read more…]

Will Hillary Be Burned in Effigy?

California as the setting for the final scene in the dramatic contests between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders got a boost yesterday as both campaigns scheduled events for this weekend in San Diego. Tensions between the two candidates’ supporters have risen in recent days as the primary season draws to a close.

Sanders supporters are planning rallies at Kimball Park in National City on Saturday and Rancho Buena Vista High School Stadium in Vista on Sunday. People will be admitted to Kimbal Park starting at 4:30pm, with candidate’s speech scheduled for 7pm. Attendees to the Vista event will be admitted from 11am, with Sanders taking the stage at 2pm.

Former President Bill Clinton will be appearing at a for a rally (time and location still TBA, but word is that it’s at Southwestern College) on Saturday morning and then at a private fundraiser at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe at 1:30 p.m.     [Read more…]

Over the past few months the San Diego Free Press has reported on the candidates and causes central to the June 2016 primary elections. We have combined our research and analyses with information from public sources to create a progressive voter guide for electoral contests appearing on ballots in the San Diego region.

This guide includes links to candidate websites, symbols indicating endorsements and a short overview of contests, along with links to our reporting.

We take elections seriously around here. Our views are informed by years of activism for causes big and small. Founded in 2012, as an all-volunteer, non-commercial website promoting progressive views and grassroots news, the San Diego Free Press draws upon the legacy of the alternative press in advocating for economic justice, and against the social constraints limiting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people.   [Read more…]

Back in 2010, San Diego became the seventh county in California to impose term limits on its Board of Supervisors. Voters approved of the idea by better than a two to one margin. Unions, which typically oppose term limits, actually funded the effort.

This electoral groundswell happened for a reason, namely the billions in funding flowing through (and overly generous reserges in) county coffers. The ability of just five elected officials to shape the county’s priorities in big and small ways amounted to a ticket to lifetime tenure in part because supervisors also draw their own district lines.

There are two contests for County Supervisor appearing on 2016 primary ballots in San Diego. They only appear on ballots for voters living in the districts involved. (First District Supervisor Greg Cox is unopposed and therefore, won’t be on the ballot)   [Read more…]

Who Are the Democrats Who Aren’t Really Democrats?

This started out to be a column addressing the increasing awareness of the Bernie movement on finding like-minded progressive candidates on the ballot. It ended up be an exploration of the Dark Side of both local politics and the newly ascendant supporters of the Democratic Socialist from Vermont.

For those of interested in short lists for city offices, here it is: if you like Bernie, then Lori Saldaña for Mayor, Bryan Pease for City Attorney, Sara Saez for D9 City Council, and Jose Caballero for D7 City Council…

…Except that the Progressive Democratic Club says if you support Bernie you should vote for Ed Harris for Mayor.

Later this week, the San Diego Free Press will publish the Progressive Voter Guide, which will include endorsements. In the meantime, you can view all our articles on the upcoming primary by clicking here.   [Read more…]

An Analysis of Ballot Measures for the June 2016 Primary

If there one issue symbolic of San Diego politics, it’s the fight for a bump in the local minimum wage. Almost two years after a majority of the city’s elected representatives voted for a measure increasing wages (in baby steps) and allowing for earned paid sick leave, the voters will have a say on the issue.

I won’t mince words here. If you live in the City of San Diego, vote YES on the referendum on Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage, which will appear on the June 7th ballot as Proposition I.

I know–if you vote in June–what the outcome will be. A majority of people, including business owners, support what Proposition I will do. The sky will not fall. Nobody’s going to get rich, either. It’s a gesture, an acknowledgment of the reality that things just aren’t right.   [Read more…]

Legislative Choices on the Primary Ballot: Seats in Sacramento and Washingon, Representing San Diego

Congressman Darrell Issa is getting some attention for something besides hyperbolic press releases this week. In an op-ed in The Hill on Tuesday, he urged lawmakers to rally fellow Republicans against a common enemy: Clinton. This morning’s California Playbook from Politico quotes a tweet from GOP strategist (and former Issa mini-me) Kurt Bardella promoting the 49th district Congressman as a Vice Presidential pick for Donald Trump.

The mud-wrestling match likely to follow the affirmation of presumptive nominees Trump and Clinton does seem like a perfect fit for Issa, whose actions as the GOP’s chief inquisitor sparked many of the modern-day Hillary conspiracy theories making the rounds.

The only good news about a successful Trump/Issa general election campaign would be the ensuing vacancy in the House of Representatives.

With that bit of silliness out of the way, let’s take a look at the 73 people vying for the 14 opportunities to represent San Diego in Washington and Sacramento. Fortunately for voters, their ballots will present choices for a maximum of four legislative positions: US Senate, House of Representatives, California State Senate, and the California Assembly.   [Read more…]

Mayoral and City Council Races Swamped with Cash

Donors to Republican candidates facing Democrats in Mayoral and Council races in San Diego have ponied up nearly $2.7 million in direct and indirect support for the upcoming primary election. Democrats are lagging far behind, with $510,263 collected in those contests.

And that doesn’t count the ‘hidden money’ flowing from GOP interests to committees like the Neighborhood Services Coalition in Support of Anthony Bernal or the  Urban Neighbors United Supporting Ricardo Flores in District 3 and 9 contests where there is no viable Republican opposition.

Republicans in San Diego are clearly worried by the very idea of a yuuuge turnout in the general election and are marshaling their financial resources towards winning as many primary contests as possible.   [Read more…]