Former Coronado Mayor Announces San Diego City Council Run

Richard Bailey seeks District 2 seat in crowded race for June primary

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Former Coronado mayor Richard Bailey has announced his candidacy for the San Diego City Council District 2 seat. Bailey, who has re-registered as an independent after previously being affiliated with the Republican Party, is positioning his campaign as "non-partisan, policy-focused, back-to-basics." The race for the District 2 seat, which represents neighborhoods including Clairemont, Midway, and Ocean Beach, is becoming crowded with 8 candidates having filed the necessary campaign disclosures so far.

Why it matters

Bailey's entry into the race adds an experienced political figure to the contest for the District 2 seat, which could impact the dynamics and outcome of the election. As a former mayor, Bailey brings name recognition and a track record, but will need to navigate the political landscape of a district that leans Democratic.

The details

In his announcement, Bailey asked for support for what he described as a "non-partisan, policy-focused, back-to-basics" campaign. Over the past year, he has positioned himself to influence San Diego politics through viral Instagram videos focusing on quality-of-life issues. Bailey will be entering a race where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2 to 1, though the number of people with no party preference is nearly equivalent to the number of registered Republicans.

  • Bailey announced his candidacy on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • The primary election for the District 2 seat is scheduled for June 2, 2026.

The players

Richard Bailey

Former mayor of Coronado who is now running for the San Diego City Council District 2 seat as an independent candidate.

Jen Campbell

The current Councilmember for District 2, which Bailey is seeking to represent.

Josh Coyne

One of the other candidates who has filed campaign disclosures for the District 2 race, having raised $93,000 in the last year.

Nicole Crosby

Another candidate in the District 2 race, having raised nearly $35,000 for her campaign.

Marissa Havlik

A candidate in the District 2 race who has received over $30,000 in campaign contributions.

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What they’re saying

“never say never”

— Richard Bailey (Times of San Diego)

What’s next

The deadline for candidates to file for the District 2 race is March 5, 2026. After the June 2 primary, the race will narrow down to the top two candidates who will advance to the general election.

The takeaway

Bailey's entry into the crowded District 2 race adds an experienced political figure to the contest, but he will need to navigate the district's Democratic lean and a field of other candidates who have already begun fundraising. The outcome of this race could impact the political dynamics on the San Diego City Council.