Assembly member Todd Gloria may become San Diego’s first openly gay mayor if he runs a successful 2020 bid. Gloria has spent his entire professional life in service to the public. He began his career at the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency and then served as District Director to U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis. In a volunteer capacity, Gloria served as a San Diego Housing Commissioner and as a member of the Mid-City Prostitution Impact Panel. Gloria was elected to the San Diego City Council in 2008, following Chris Kehoe and Toni Atkins in serving the Third District. His fellow council members elected him as their Council President in 2012. In 2013, Gloria served as the city’s interim mayor after Bob Filner resigned following allegations of sexual harassment. During that time, Gloria is widely credited with restoring the public’s trust in city government.
Gloria is a third-generation San Diegan and currently serves as the Vice Chair of California’s Legislative LGBT Caucus, after being elected to the state legislature in 2016. Gloria has been a champion for the LGBTQ community — and LGBTQ youth in particular — during his time in the Assembly. Working closely with Equality California, he passed historic legislation protecting the rights of LGBTQ foster youth to access quality, gender-affirming health care last year and just last month introduced the Safe and Supportive Schools Act of 2019, which would provide California teachers and school staff with tools and training to better support their LGBTQ students.
“Todd Gloria will be a mayor who fights for every San Diegan, in every community,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “Throughout his career, Todd has championed civil rights and social justice for the LGBTQ community and worked tirelessly to give all Californians a shot at success. We’re ready to make history in 2020.”
Find out more about Todd Gloria by visiting his campaign website.
