Politics in San Diego used to be a predictable, sleepy affair. You had your moderate Republicans or your establishment Democrats, and everybody generally followed the same script. But the San Diego mayor race 2024 felt different. It was grit against polish. It was a career politician against a guy who spent his days patrolling the streets in a cruiser.
Honestly, if you looked at the early polls, you’d have thought incumbent Todd Gloria was going to walk away with it. He had the money. He had the Democratic Party machine. He had the endorsements of basically every major labor union in the county. But then Larry Turner, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps and a current SDPD officer, started gaining steam.
By the time November 5, 2024, rolled around, the city was vibrating with tension. This wasn't just about who sat in the big office at City Hall; it was a referendum on whether San Diegans thought the city was actually working.
The Final Numbers: A Closer Look at the Results
When the dust finally settled and the Registrar of Voters finished the long, slow tally in December, Todd Gloria secured his second term. He pulled in 317,015 votes, which came out to roughly 55.3%. Larry Turner didn't make it, but he put up a hell of a fight with 255,782 votes (44.7%).
That 10-point gap might look comfortable on paper, but for an incumbent in a deeply blue city, it was a bit of a wake-up call. Turner, running as an independent, managed to tap into a massive well of frustration.
Voter turnout was surprisingly high. We saw about 75.9% of registered voters cast a ballot. Most people—around 64%—just mailed them in. If you look at the map, Gloria dominated the urban core and transit-heavy areas like Hillcrest and North Park. Turner, meanwhile, swept through the more suburban and conservative-leaning pockets where "quality of life" is the phrase of the day.
✨ Don't miss: Texas Flash Floods: What Really Happens When a Summer Camp Underwater Becomes the Story
What Actually Drove the San Diego Mayor Race 2024?
You can't talk about this election without talking about the tents. Homelessness wasn't just a "topic"—it was the topic.
Gloria ran on a "stay the course" platform. He pointed to his Unsafe Camping Ordinance and the creation of "Safe Sleeping" sites as proof that he was finally doing something. He talked about "balancing compassion with accountability."
Turner called foul. He argued that the homeless population had more than doubled during Gloria’s first term. He wasn't wrong on the numbers; the January 2024 census showed over 10,500 people living on the streets, a massive spike since 2020. Turner's pitch was simple: "I’m the guy on the ground. I see the failures every day."
The Housing War
Then there’s the housing crisis. San Diego is expensive. Like, "I might have to move to Arizona" expensive.
- Gloria's Plan: Upzone everything. He pushed through massive community plan updates in places like University City and Hillcrest to allow for 105,000 new homes. He wants density. He wants transit.
- Turner's Stance: He called the Mayor’s approach "oversaturation." He worried about parking and infrastructure getting crushed under the weight of new high-rises. He wanted to give power back to the local planning groups that Gloria had largely sidelined.
It was a classic clash between "YIMBY" (Yes In My Backyard) and "NIMBY" (Not In My Backyard) philosophies, though Turner preferred to call it "common sense planning."
🔗 Read more: Teamsters Union Jimmy Hoffa: What Most People Get Wrong
That Wild Debate at KPBS
If you missed the October debate, you missed some of the most awkward TV in San Diego history. Turner went on the offensive, accusing Gloria of being a world traveler while the city burned. He famously asked why the Mayor was always in "Vegas, China, and Davos."
Gloria hit back immediately. "I’ve never been to Davos," he shot back, before explaining that his trip to China was actually to bring pandas back to the San Diego Zoo. It was a weird, specific moment that highlighted the personal animosity between the two.
Turner also hammered Gloria on the 101 Ash Street scandal—that disastrous real estate deal that has cost the city millions. He called it corruption; Gloria called it a mess he inherited and was trying to clean up. Honestly, both had points that resonated depending on who you asked.
The Money Trail: Who Paid for This?
Money talks. Usually, it screams.
Todd Gloria had a massive fundraising lead. He was backed by huge sums from the San Diego Municipal Employees Association and wealthy donors like Lynn Gorguze. But Turner had a "secret weapon" in the form of an independent expenditure committee.
💡 You might also like: Statesville NC Record and Landmark Obituaries: Finding What You Need
The Lincoln Club of San Diego funneled a ton of cash into Turner’s corner. One guy, a retired attorney named Steven Richter, dropped about $1.45 million into the race to support Turner. That’s a lot of mailers. It’s a big reason why a political newcomer like Turner was able to keep it as close as he did.
What Happens Now?
So, Gloria won. He’s back for four more years. But the "mandate" feels a little shaky.
The city is staring down a $318 million budget deficit. Measure E, the sales tax increase Gloria was counting on, got rejected by voters. That means some tough choices are coming. We’re talking about potential cuts to libraries, parks, and maybe even street repairs.
Gloria has already started talking about "stabilizing the foundation." He’s consolidated city departments and moved employees out of expensive rented offices. But the real test will be if he can actually get those 105,000 homes built and if the "Safe Sleeping" sites actually reduce the number of people on the sidewalk.
Actionable Insights for San Diegans
If you're wondering how this affects your daily life, here’s the deal:
- Watch the Zoning: Check the "Bridge to Home" and "Affordable Housing Permit Now" programs. If you live in University City or Hillcrest, your neighborhood is about to look very different over the next five years.
- Monitor the Budget: Since the sales tax failed, the city will be holding public budget hearings. If you care about your local park or pothole, that’s where you need to show up.
- Homelessness Reporting: The city is pushing its "Get It Done" app harder than ever. If you want to see if Gloria’s second-term policies are working, keep an eye on the response times for encampment reports in your area.
The San Diego mayor race 2024 proved that the city isn't a monolith. There is a deep, loud desire for change, even if the incumbent managed to hold onto the seat. Whether you voted for the "cop" or the "politician," the next four years are going to be a bumpy ride for America's Finest City.
Keep an eye on the City Council meetings this spring—that’s when the real budget slicing begins.