San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer might end up with a recognizable opponent for reelection after all, as former state legislator Lori Saldaña is reportedly poised to enter the race.
Faulconer has been all but unopposed since Gretchen Newsom, political director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in San Diego, ended her campaign in early December for personal reasons.
Voice of San Diego reported Monday that Saldaña, who represented San Diego in the Assembly from 2004-10, will join the race Thursday as an independent.
Saldaña, who couldn’t be reached for confirmation, left the Democratic Party in 2014 following disputes with local leaders and a growing antipathy for party politics, according to the publication.
She reportedly said the city deserves a conversation about its future, which won’t happen unless someone from the political left joins the race.