{"id":493039,"date":"2026-10-11T23:10:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T23:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/493039\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T23:10:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T23:10:16","slug":"special-mailer-edition-of-the-politics-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/493039\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Mailer Edition of the Politics Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year, I ask readers to send in the mailers they get. Campaigns collect a tremendous amount of data about their races and constituents. They don\u2019t normally share that information with us but mailers reveal what they have learned people care about. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a sampling as voting has been underway for a week. (Remember if you don\u2019t like the mailers as much as I do, if you vote, the mailers will stop coming \u2026 mostly.)<\/p>\n

The 48th: It\u2019s All About Costs<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the big race for the 48th Congressional District between Democrat Marni von Wilpert and Republican Jim Desmond. This is an air war with punches and counterpunches to the punches dominating commercial breaks during sporting events. <\/p>\n

Von Wilpert is way more willing to talk about her party and President Donald Trump than Desmond is as the surge nationally points to a tough year for the incumbent party. Desmond has hit her back on costs too and her support of fees and taxes as a City Councilmember in San Diego.<\/p>\n

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And right back at her:<\/p>\n

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And here\u2019s a different angle. Supporters of von Wilpert citing Trump. <\/p>\n

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And another representative hit on von Wilpert:<\/p>\n

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The State Senate Race<\/p>\n

Now, in the race for the open state Senate seat, former San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott faces Kristie Bruce-Layne. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an anti-Bruce-Layne take from the unions that represent state workers. <\/p>\n

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Bruce-Lane fired back calling Elliott a socialist. This was a text message:<\/p>\n

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San Diego City Council District 2<\/p>\n

This is essentially a message battle about who it is worse to support: President Donald Trump or San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the case that it\u2019s Trump, from the Labor Council. <\/p>\n

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That looks like a communicable disease. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the case from Bailey, that it\u2019s worse to be with Gloria. This was an instagram ad with a video repeatedly highlighting the alliance between Gloria and Crosby:<\/p>\n

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Now here\u2019s a really interesting one. This is an independent expenditure, funded by Steven Richter, advertising Bailey from a liberal perspective.<\/p>\n

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I don\u2019t think even Bailey would consider himself the climate change guy but also: Note how there are sources for some of the claims but not for the one that he\u2019s \u201copposed to Flock cameras.\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t find anywhere where Bailey has said he\u2019s \u201copposed to Flock cameras.\u201d At best, I found a write-up from Times of San Diego<\/a> where he advocates for better oversight of the program and dismisses its effectiveness. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor him, it\u2019s an issue of placing more guardrails around the technology. He proposed that the public database that logs ALPR searches should include license plate numbers, so residents can see if they are actively being surveilled. He also said he would like to see the city delete data after a week rather than a month.\u201d<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s one featuring vacation rentals. We wrote about that contrast<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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San Diego City Council District 4<\/p>\n

In District 4, supporters of incumbent Councilmember Henry Foster have been relentlessly trumpeting his anti-flock, anti-surveillance message.<\/p>\n

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In an Instagram video, where Abraham is having major success with engagement, she called her supposed support of Flock a lie. <\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s what we could find on that: Here\u2019s a Union-Tribune story <\/a>covering a candidate forum: \u201cAbraham agreed that there are growing concerns about how cameras are used, but she said more analysis is needed to prove they are a bad idea.\u201d
\u201c\u2018Numbers don\u2019t lie,\u2019 she said. \u2018We can present a case that it\u2019s something that might not be needed in our community.’\u201d<\/p>\n

In an Instagram post<\/a>, she said her stance is clear: \u201cWe all deserve to feel safe in our neighborhoods. Some neighbors have had their cars recovered because of these cameras. Others are worried about who can see their data and where it goes. Both are legitimate concerns. Our communities deserve accountability, transparency, and real solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy stance is clear and driven by data. Mistakes have been made. We need an independent audit of who has had access to the data. Your information should be protected and used appropriately every single time.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Council District 8<\/p>\n

The San Diego Police Officers Association is going hard for Gerardo Ramirez over Antonio Martinez. Very interesting that it\u2019s very pro-cop and more cops.<\/p>\n

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If you have any feedback or ideas for the Politics Report, send them to scott.lewis@voiceofsandiego.org or will.huntsberry@voiceofsandiego.org. <\/p>\n

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