What Paloma Aguirre’s Win Means for the San Diego Board of Supervisors and the Region
". . . this election was a crucially important, historically significant one for the region and paved the way for a more progressive San Diego . . . "
If the Zohran Mamdani win over Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary was startling national news that has the potential to transform not just New York but the Democratic party, Paloma Aguirre’s victory over Republican John McCann in the San Diego County Board of Supervisor’s race was, if not the opposite, at least seemingly far less dramatic news coming from our sleepy little Southwestern corner of the country. While Mamdani energized young voters, built a new coalition, and drove the largest turnout in decades, the San Diego Board of Supervisors race had a dismal turnout, and there was nothing shocking about the outcome.
Indeed, beating a Republican in a district where Democrats have a two-to-one voter registration advantage is what ought to happen in a Democratic region in California. In fact, it could be argued that the real action in this contest occurred in the April primary where Aguirre decisively defeated a more business friendly Democrat, Vivian Moreno, and put herself in the catbird’s seat for the general election in July.
Nonetheless, this election was a crucially important, historically significant one for the region and paved the way for a more progressive San Diego that can help play a role as a counterweight to the authoritarian politics coming from Washington, D.C. Like the Mamdani win, it was an important bright spot on a dark national landscape. Why?
Aguirre’s victory gave San Diego a legitimately progressive majority on the County Board of Supervisors. It is a dynamic, racially diverse, all-woman, pro-worker, and environmentally conscious group, all of whom are impressive figures in their own ways. It’s easy to forget how historically new the Democratic dominance of local politics is, and Aguirre’s win solidifies Democratic rule and robs the right of an opportunity to turn back the clock and gain a foothold for Trumpian politics at the county level.
Electorally, it is yet another key loss for the San Diego right and the moneyed interests that used to run the region. Conversely, it’s a big win for most of local labor and grassroots activists who took a stand in the primary against those outliers in labor along with some in the local Democratic Party establishment who were betting on a San Diego version of triangulation, hoping that Aguirre’s opponent would sway business interests and cruise to a primary win. It didn’t happen. This is a positive sign that a progressive candidate with a good ground game can win in San Diego, even in a low turnout, off-cycle election. In the end, the big winner here will hopefully be, as Aguirre said herself, working class people in San Diego.
This win is also a boost for the local resistance to Trump. Rather than having to deal with a San Diego version of DOGE slashing and burning itself through the county budget and services, now we have a board interested in how it can fill the gaps created by federal cuts and stand up to Trump and the national GOP on a wide range of issues rather than aiding and abetting the administration’s assaults on democracy. The new majority will immediately face a host of fiscal and political challenges but with a set of values that puts ordinary people and the overall well-being of the community at the center of its decision making.
Finally, Aguirre’s victory should mean more pro-labor policies as well as environmental and climate action at the county level, from taking concerted action on the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis to guiding the county to a more sustainable future. Of course, housing and the homeless crisis are at the heart of that nexus between economic and environmental issues as well. If there is a board majority that is suited to negotiate the frequently difficult terrain of competing interests and finding the sweet spot, this is it.
One big caveat: During the campaign, Aguirre voiced opposition to new tax increases, even Terra Lawson-Remer’s idea to impose a 1% tax on expensive real estate transactions. Let’s hope this is a campaign position that Aguirre reconsiders as it seems clear that our region, which ranks lower than other California counties of comparable size in terms of revenue, cannot afford to take raising taxes off the table. The truth is that it was San Diego’s something for nothing anti-tax gospel that has led the city and county to a place where scarcity budgeting rather than real progress is always the predicable outcome of local policy debates.
While it is wise to reevaluate the county policy regarding reserves as the Board of Supervisors will surely do, progressives will never be able to move the county forward until there is enough revenue to fund the future. Period. It’s simply unwise to suggest otherwise even if the politics of doing so are difficult.
In other words, San Diego’s new progressive majority will need to govern with both intelligence and courage. Paloma Aguirre, Terra Lawson-Remer, and Monica Montgomery have the right values. Now is the time to put those values in action. The future of our region hangs in the balance. We have a real opportunity to turn San Diego County in a genuinely transformative direction that makes our region a better place for everyone, not just those affluent enough to enjoy it. As long as they don’t let the usual petty personal politics, circular firing squad antics, and political timidity that have hamstrung too many local Democrats in the past stop them, this group has a real opportunity to lead us forward through difficult times.
Let’s not blow it, San Diego.
Originally posted at The Jumping Off Place
