State Sen. Ben Hueso announced Thursday his candidacy for the South Bay county supervisor seat held by Greg Cox for over 20 years.
“This is a watershed moment when we need a progressive, experienced leader with a proven record to implement bold policies to revitalize San Diego,” said Hueso. “I’ve been fighting tirelessly for our region my entire career and I’m thrilled to launch my campaign to represent San Diegans on the County Board of Supervisors.”
Hueso, who is termed-out in Sacramento, will face Port Commissioner Rafael Castellanos, Southwestern Community College Trustee Nora Vargas and healthcare advocate Sophia Rodriguez in the March 2020 primary.
District 1, which has been represented by Cox since 1995, stretches south from downtown San Diego and Pt. Loma to the Mexican border, and east to San Miguel Mountain and the Otay reservoirs.
Although the post is officially non-partisan, Cox is a Republican. All four contenders are Democrats, and no Republican candidate has announced, assuring at this point that a second supervisor seat after District 4, represented by Nathan Fletcher, will go Democratic.
Hueso was born and raised in San Diego, graduated from Point Loma High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA. He lives in Logan Heights with his four sons.
His political career includes election to the City Council in 2006, the state Assembly in 2010 and the State Senate in 2013.
Although he is a late official entrant into the race, he began fundraising in March and has already raised more than $160,000.
