San Diego County's longest-serving GOP city official seeks re-election as Democrat

[RandySF]

Gary Kendrick, who has served on the El Cajon City Council since 2002, announced Monday he has formally left the Republican Party and will run for re-election as a Democrat.

According to the San Diego County Democratic Party, Kendrick, “once a lifelong Republican who was elected with 85% of the vote in his last election … has come to recognize that today’s Republican Party is no longer grounded in the economic or personal well-being of the people he swore an oath to serve.”

The East County city is governed by a five-member city council, on which the mayor also sits.

“Moments of consequence call for clarity and action, which is why I am formally renouncing the Republican Party and joining the Democratic Party,” Kendrick said during a news conference outside city hall. “I’m in this fight to protect El Cajon from the far-right radicals who threaten our way of life.



https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2026/02/09/san-diego-countys-longest-serving-gop-city-official-seeks-re-election-as-democrat/

[Lovie777]

1. Say what?....................

I watch a lot of spy movies, well with sci-fi twist, so Democrats, be observant.

[Multichromatic]

2. I don't trust him.

So, the councilman is afraid of losing his seat? I appreciate him speaking out... but I don't think we need any Republican chameleons joining the Democratic Party. I could be wrong. However, a leopard rarely changes their spots.

[quaint]

3. He has been supported by Democrats for over a decade. Both people and politicians.

Actively anti-ice, as well.

[LogDog75]

4. I live in the San Diego area

I haven't heard of him because I live in another city. However, considering San Diego County was a republican stronghold about 15 years ago and only the East County, which El Cajon is, is still republican I'm thinking he's making the change for political purposes for the next coming election(s).

Time will tell whether he's honestly becoming a Democrat or just trying to fool people.