San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria says he is staying as recall effort begins

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's preferred City Council candidates won on Nov. 3, 2026. Then Martha Abraham, who ousted District 4 incumbent Henry Foster, said she would not accept Gloria's endorsement and called association with him potentially toxic. Nicole Crosby, the District 2 winner, also distanced herself.

The same day, a committee led by Genevieve Jones-Wright filed a recall notice against Gloria. It needs 120,000 valid signatures in 120 days, a threshold the article calls an enormous lift. Gloria says he will not leave for a job with Governor Xavier Becerra and is determined to finish his term.

Why it matters

San Diego's mayor is politically isolated even after his preferred council candidates won, and a long-shot recall will test whether local power can be rebuilt.

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Key Indicators

120,000

Valid signatures needed for recall

Recall organizers must collect roughly 150,000 to account for invalid signatures.

120

Signature collection window

The clock started when the recall notice was filed on Election Day.

Years since prior District 4 upset

Monica Montgomery Steppe beat Myrtle Cole in 2018.

Named recall organizers

Genevieve Jones-Wright and four allies filed the notice.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Todd Gloria

Mayor of San Diego

Target of recall notice; says he is staying

Martha Abraham

District 4 City Council member-elect

Won seat on Nov. 3, 2026

Henry Foster

Incumbent District 4 City Council member

Lost reelection to Martha Abraham

Nicole Crosby

District 2 City Council member-elect

Won seat on Nov. 3, 2026

Genevieve Jones-Wright

Recall organizer

Leading recall notice against Mayor Gloria

Michael Zucchet

General manager, Municipal Employees Association

Opposes recall

Organizations Involved

City of San Diego

Municipal government

Mayor Todd Gloria faces recall

The city government whose mayor and council are at the center of the recall fight.

San Diego City Council

Legislative body

Two seats changed in 2026 election

The city's legislative body, which includes the District 4 and District 2 seats contested in 2026.

Municipal Employees Association

Labor union

Opposes recall

The largest union of San Diego city employees.

Lincoln Club

Political group

Funded signs tying Crosby to Gloria

A political group that funded signs in Ocean Beach and Point Loma tying Nicole Crosby to Mayor Todd Gloria.

Jones-Wright recall committee

Political committee

Filed recall notice

The committee seeking to recall Mayor Todd Gloria.

Timeline

4 events Latest: Today

Tap a bar to jump to that date

November 2026
Voice of San Diego reports Abraham's win and Gloria's isolation
Today Publication

The article details the District 4 upset and the mayor's recall fight.
Today
Gloria says he will not take Becerra administration job
Statement

At a Friday press conference, Gloria says he will stay as mayor.
Yesterday
Martha Abraham ousts Henry Foster in District 4
Election

Abraham wins the City Council seat; Nicole Crosby also wins District 2.
4 days ago
Recall committee files notice against Mayor Todd Gloria
Recall

Genevieve Jones-Wright leads the filing; signature collection has not begun.
4 days ago

Scenarios

Recall petition fails to qualify

Likely Resolves by Mar 3, 2027

Discussed by: Voice of San Diego and labor opposition

Recall organizers must collect 120,000 valid signatures in 120 days, with a practical target of 150,000. The article notes past signature drives have failed even after spending more than $1 million, and the Municipal Employees Association opposes the effort. If the City Clerk finds too few valid signatures, Gloria remains mayor and the recall fades.

Recall qualifies for a special election

Possible Resolves by Mar 3, 2027

Discussed by: Genevieve Jones-Wright and recall organizers

If the committee submits at least 120,000 valid signatures, the City Council must set a recall election. That would force voters to decide Gloria's fate before his term ends and could draw challengers. The article says the lift is enormous, but the filing already forced officials to take sides.

Gloria leaves mayor's office before a recall vote

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Rumors reported by Voice of San Diego

Rumors spread that Gloria would take a job with Governor Xavier Becerra's administration. Gloria publicly said he would not accept such an invitation. If he reversed course, the recall would become moot and the City Council would fill the vacancy under city rules.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

August 2013

Bob Filner resigns as San Diego mayor (2013)

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner faced sexual harassment allegations and resigned in August 2013. City Council President Todd Gloria became interim mayor during the turmoil.

Then

Gloria stepped into the mayor's office and promised to restore stability to City Hall.

Now

Gloria later ran for mayor and was elected in 2020, building a political identity around competent city management.

Why this matters now

Gloria first became mayor by replacing a scandal-hit incumbent. Now he faces his own recall fight and must persuade voters his record is worth keeping.

2018

District 4 incumbent upset (2018)

Monica Montgomery Steppe beat sitting City Council President Myrtle Cole in District 4, eight years before Henry Foster lost the same seat to Martha Abraham.

Then

Montgomery Steppe won the council seat and became Foster's former boss.

Now

District 4 developed a pattern of ousting incumbents, making Abraham's win another upheaval in the same district.

Why this matters now

Foster's loss is not an isolated event. The article frames it as the latest incumbent defeat in a district that has rejected sitting council members before.