SD mayoral vote the last stand for state Republicans?

Today's (February 9) New York Times features a story on Tuesday's San Diego election. The publication Politico did the same February 5. Both articles stress the populist approach of David Alvarez combatting the business-oriented slant of Kevin Faulconer.

The Times quotes Jerry Sanders, former mayor and now head of the local chamber of commerce, saying, "If we lose this, I think it's really problematic for the Republican Party. The rest of the state has already been lost."

The Times depicts the race as a fight for San Diego's political soul: "For years, residents here have picked moderate Republicans who have the backing of city developers, transforming downtown into a model of urban redevelopment…. But many Democrats argue that the powerful, business-focused elite have neglected and ignored working-class neighborhoods outside the city's center, creating a sprawling urban area divided sharply by class."

"People are really tired of only the wealthy benefiting from city works," Alvarez tells the Times, which points out that one-third of the city's population is now Latino, up from one-fifth in 1990.

Faulconer "has played down his lifelong Republican identity, instead focusing on his work on the environment and local parks," says the Times, which notes the large amount of outside labor money that is backing Alvarez.

Politico characterizes the race as "a youthful Democrat stumping on inequality and inclusion and a more seasoned Republican emphasizing moderation and competence with the government ledger."

Former mayor Pete Wilson says he is "fervently" backing Faulconer because Alvarez would be beholden to labor, particularly public employee unions.