Todd Gloria

Todd Gloria
Born	Todd Rex Gloria 10 5, 1978
Birthplace	San Diego, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	37th Mayor of San Diego; first person of color and first openly gay person to serve as San Diego's mayor
Education	University of San Diego (BA)

Todd Rex Gloria (born May 10, 1978) is an American politician serving as the 37th mayor of San Diego since December 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, Gloria is the first person of color and the first openly LGBT person to hold the office of mayor in San Diego, California's second-largest city. Before becoming mayor, Gloria served on the San Diego City Council representing District 3, held the position of council president from 2012 to 2014, served as interim mayor following the resignation of Bob Filner in 2013, and represented California's 78th State Assembly district in the California State Assembly from 2016 to 2020. His tenure as mayor has been defined by efforts to address the city's housing crisis, homelessness, infrastructure, and fiscal challenges, including a projected $120 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027.

Early Life

Todd Rex Gloria was born on May 10, 1978, in San Diego, California. He is of Filipino, Native American, Dutch, and Puerto Rican descent, making him one of the most ethnically diverse political figures in San Diego's history. Gloria grew up in San Diego and has described himself as a product of the city's public institutions and diverse communities. His multiethnic background would later become an important part of his public identity, particularly as he ascended to the role of mayor and became the first person of color to hold that office on a permanent basis.

Gloria's early life in San Diego shaped his later interest in public service and urban policy. He has cited his upbringing in the city as formative in his understanding of the challenges facing San Diego neighborhoods, including issues of housing affordability, infrastructure, and community development. His personal background — growing up in a working-class, multiethnic family — informed many of the policy priorities he would later champion as a city councilmember, state legislator, and mayor.

Education

Gloria attended the University of San Diego, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. The University of San Diego is a private Roman Catholic university located in the Linda Vista neighborhood of San Diego. His education at USD provided a foundation for his career in public policy and government service.

Career

San Diego City Council (2008–2016)

Gloria was first elected to the San Diego City Council in 2008, representing District 3, which encompasses several central San Diego neighborhoods including Hillcrest, North Park, Normal Heights, University Heights, Bankers Hill, and other communities. He succeeded Toni Atkins, who went on to serve in the California State Assembly and later the California State Senate.

During his time on the council, Gloria established himself as an advocate for urban planning, public transit, housing, and LGBT rights. His district included some of San Diego's most densely populated and diverse urban neighborhoods, and Gloria focused on issues of neighborhood livability, infrastructure improvements, and smart growth policies.

Council President and Interim Mayor (2012–2014)

In December 2012, Gloria was elected president of the nine-member San Diego City Council, succeeding Tony Young. The role of council president carried significant administrative responsibilities and placed Gloria in a position of citywide leadership.

Gloria's tenure as council president took on unexpected significance in August 2013, when Mayor Bob Filner resigned amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment. Under the city's strong-mayor form of government, the council president was next in the line of succession, and Gloria assumed the role of interim mayor on August 30, 2013. At that point, San Diego became the largest city in the United States with an openly gay leader, second only to Houston, which had elected Annise Parker as mayor in 2009.

As interim mayor, Gloria served in a role that carried many, though not all, of the powers of the elected mayor. The distinction between an interim mayor and a strong mayor under San Diego's charter was a subject of public discussion during this period. During his approximately six months as interim mayor, Gloria undertook several notable actions, including increasing public records transparency and revisiting relationships with lobbyists that had been disrupted under the Filner administration. He also addressed the issue of illegal medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

There was speculation in September 2013 that Gloria might seek the mayor's office on a permanent basis in the special election triggered by Filner's resignation. Ultimately, Gloria did not enter the race, and Republican Kevin Faulconer won the special election and was inaugurated as mayor in March 2014, at which point Gloria returned to his role as council president. Gloria served as council president until December 2014, when he was succeeded by Sherri Lightner.

California State Assembly (2016–2020)

In November 2016, Gloria was elected to represent California's 78th State Assembly district, which encompasses much of the city of San Diego. He succeeded Toni Atkins, who had moved on to the State Senate. Gloria took office on December 5, 2016, and was quickly appointed to a leadership position within the Assembly Democratic caucus.

In January 2018, Gloria was named Majority Whip of the California State Assembly, a position that placed him in the leadership ranks of the Democratic majority in the lower house of the California State Legislature. As Majority Whip, Gloria was responsible for helping to ensure the passage of legislation supported by the Democratic caucus and served as a key liaison between the party leadership and rank-and-file members.

During his time in the Assembly, Gloria focused on housing policy, homelessness, and LGBTQ rights, among other issues. His legislative record in Sacramento built on the policy priorities he had established during his time on the San Diego City Council.

Mayor of San Diego (2020–present)

In early 2019, Gloria announced his candidacy for mayor of San Diego in the 2020 election. He ran on a platform that emphasized housing production, homelessness reduction, climate action, and government transparency. Gloria won the November 2020 general election and was inaugurated as the 37th mayor of San Diego on December 10, 2020, succeeding Republican Kevin Faulconer, who was term-limited.

Gloria's election was historic on multiple fronts. He became the first person of color to be elected mayor of San Diego (he had previously served as the city's first non-white interim mayor in 2013) and the first openly gay person to hold the office on a permanent basis.

Budget and Fiscal Challenges

A central challenge of Gloria's mayoralty has been the city's fiscal health. In January 2025, Gloria declared a year of fiscal austerity, stating his intention to "right-size" the city's finances and address structural deficits. However, by the end of 2025, observers noted that the administration had not fully achieved these goals.

By early 2026, the City of San Diego was facing a projected $120 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027. The San Diego City Council held public hearings in February 2026 to address the financial outlook, with residents and stakeholders weighing in on potential cuts and revenue measures. The budget situation prompted discussion among some city council members about potential changes to the city's governmental structure, including at least one proposal for a ballot measure that would reduce the mayor's executive authority under the strong-mayor system.

State of the City and Policy Priorities

In his January 2026 State of the City address, Gloria highlighted what he described as the city's progress on key issues, including housing development, homelessness services, and infrastructure improvements. The address came at a time of public scrutiny regarding several municipal issues, including the introduction of paid parking in Balboa Park and the city's policies regarding cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Public Reception and Criticism

Gloria entered office with a Democratic supermajority on the city council and substantial expectations from both progressive allies and the broader electorate. By his sixth year in office, however, his administration faced criticism from multiple directions. A January 2026 analysis by Voice of San Diego described a sense of "disappointment" among both supporters and opponents, noting that even Gloria's allies expressed frustration with what they perceived as limited progress on major priorities despite favorable political conditions.

Bipartisan Engagement

Gloria has participated in bipartisan forums on urban governance. In early 2026, he appeared alongside Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, a Republican, on a C-SPAN program focused on bridging partisan divisions in municipal government.

Personal Life

Todd Gloria is openly gay and has been a visible figure in San Diego's LGBT community throughout his political career. His sexual orientation has been a matter of public record since his earliest campaigns for office. When he became interim mayor in August 2013, the national media noted that San Diego had become one of the largest American cities to have an openly gay leader.

Gloria resides in San Diego, California. He has described himself as being of Filipino, Native American, Dutch, and Puerto Rican heritage.

Recognition

Gloria's election as mayor in 2020 was recognized as a milestone in both LGBT political history and in the representation of people of color in American municipal government. He was the first person of color and the first openly gay person elected as mayor of San Diego, one of the ten largest cities in the United States. His initial service as interim mayor in 2013 had already drawn national attention for these distinctions, and his election to the permanent position in 2020 cemented the historic significance.

Gloria has been invited to participate in national discussions on urban policy and bipartisan governance, including an appearance on C-SPAN in early 2026 alongside Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, where the two mayors discussed bridging partisan divides at the local government level.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Todd Gloria is in his sixth year as mayor of San Diego and continues to serve in that capacity. His legacy remains a subject of active debate within the city. Gloria came into office with high expectations, a Democratic supermajority on the city council, and ambitious goals around housing, homelessness, climate policy, and fiscal management. His supporters have pointed to housing policy initiatives and government reforms as accomplishments, while critics — including some within his own political coalition — have expressed frustration at the pace of progress on several fronts.

The city's ongoing fiscal challenges, including the projected $120 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027, represent a significant test for Gloria's administration and will likely factor prominently in assessments of his time in office. Additionally, proposals to alter the city's strong-mayor form of government, which some council members have floated in response to concerns about executive authority, could reshape the political landscape in which Gloria operates for the remainder of his term.

Regardless of the final assessment of his mayoral tenure, Gloria's career represents several firsts in San Diego politics: he was the city's first openly gay council president, first openly gay interim mayor, and first person of color and first openly gay person elected as mayor on a permanent basis.