SAN DIEGO: Carl DeMaio To Continue US House Bid, WON'T Run For Mayor

Contrary to a report published yesterday by Politico, homocon former San Diego City Council member Carl DeMaio will not be running again for mayor and will continue his campaign for the US House.

The decision by DeMaio comes after lengthy behind-the-scenes deliberations among Republican power brokers this past weekend in which they urged DeMaio to stay in the congressional race and unanimously agreed to back Councilman Kevin Faulconer in the mayor’s race. Faulconer is expected to announce his candidacy at 10 a.m. Wednesday. "Today I reaffirm my commitment to be San Diego's voice in the U.S. Congress," DeMaio said at a bayside news conference. DeMaio is running in the 52nd Congressional District against freshman Democrat Scott Peters of San Diego. Republican Kirk Jorgensen, a retired Marine, is also in the race. DeMaio, who has long coveted the mayor’s job, was considered the wild card in the coming special election because he likely would have begun the race as the frontrunner. He has name recognition from voters and a campaign war chest already built up for the congressional bid.

By a margin of 53-47, DeMaio lost last year's mayoral race to disgraced former Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned last month over sexual harassment accusations. Acting San Diego mayor and City Council President Todd Gloria, who is an openly gay Democrat, is expected to announce today whether he intends to run to replace Filner. (Tipped by JMG readers Michael, Dwight, and Eric.)

UPDATE: Gloria says he is not running "at this time."