Former city attorney Mara Elliott announces candidacy for State Senate

Former San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott announced her candidacy for State Senate on Thursday, seeking to replace Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones in Senate District 40.

“As the mother of two college kids, I understand how difficult it is for San Diego families to make ends meet,” she wrote in a fundraising email to supporters on Thursday.

“And as the city’s former prosecutor, I know how important it is to do all we can to protect our neighborhoods. I am running for State Senate to continue to serve our region by working to make life safer and more affordable.”

Senate District 40 encompasses a wide swathe of inland San Diego County, including Santee, Alpine, Poway, Escondido, Valley Center, and portions of the city of San Diego.

Jones, the highest-ranking Republican in California state government, has held the seat since 2022. He is termed out and will retire from the seat in 2026.

The 40th was traditionally a Democratic stronghold, encompassing the southern border areas of San Diego and Imperial counties.

Redistricting in 2020 shifted the boundaries north and made it much more Republican-friendly. Jones beat Democrat opponent Joseph C. Rocha 53.1%-46.9%, about a 20,000 vote difference.

Elliott has not declared her party affiliation as part of the campaign announcement, but has held moderate views and a sometimes strained relationship with the all-Democratic San Diego City Council. She was proactive on consumer rights and gun control while in office.

She left office due to term limits last year after serving eight years in the role.

“Mara worked with law enforcement and the courts to launch San Diego’s groundbreaking response to public safety,” a descriptor on her campaign website read.

“She and her team trained more than 500 law enforcement agencies throughout the state on San Diego’s approach to public safety so that they could create their own programs.”

Elliott touted multiple endorsements from local Democrats Thursday, including Rep. Sara Jacobs, Sen. Catherine Blakespear, and Assemblymembers Tasha Boerner, Darshana Patel, and Chris Ward.

Members of the California State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits.