How did Faulconer manage to win the mayoral election in San Diego anyway? Is it a right-wing city? Are surfers especially conservative?
" when he was elected"? While San Diego is indeed trending democratic like much of Southern California due to demographics, Faulconer was only first elected in 2013. It's not like there's been much of a shift since then.
It had to do more with a fact that he is a downright social liberal on the issue of LGBT rights, Pathway to citizenship, Etc. And only moderate on most other issues. The notable one at least as mayor being that he vetoed a city council measure to increase the local minimum wage to $11.50 an hour (though that veto was overturned by referendum). He also had a good record as an effective city council member for some time. Not to mention the Democrat incumbent who had been narrowly elected not long before resigned in disgrace over a sex scandal involving groping and please, interns, Etc. And even with that stain on the local Democratic Party then he squeaked his way in with only 52.5% of the vote. Though he was reelected last year with almost 57% of the vote in a jungle primary.
One advantage faulconer would have over Castro is, as noted, Castro would have to give up his congressional seat to run for governor or senator outside of an odd year special election. Faulconer has to run for reelection during presidential years, where is the governorship and other Statewide offices in California are up for vote in off-years. Thus, he could run and still keep his job.
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