San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer Wins June Primary

The Republican mayor needed more than 51 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary to avoid a run-off election in November

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer won the June Primary, receiving more than 50-percent of the vote to avoid a runoff election in November.

The Republican mayor received more than 60 percent of the early votes counted Tuesday, despite facing two challengers

Faulconer defended off heated attacks from Democrat Lifeguard Sgt. Ed Harris and former state Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, a Democrat turned independent.

Faulconer needed 51 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off and secure a second term.

Members of the mayor's staff at a U.S. Grant election party reacted to the early returns with cheer, but not much surprise.

After no Democrats appeared willing to challenge the mayor late last year, two candidates emerged for a late and low budget Spring campaign to take aim.

Harris and Saldaña criticized Faulconer's handling of homeless issues, public safety and Chargers stadium proposals.

A fiscal conservative, Faulconer supports a stadium plan that includes public subsidies for a new stadium in Mission Valley.

Often regarded as a rising star in the state's Republican Party partly because of his a low-key and likable demeanor, Faulconer has moderate views on the environment and immigration. His success has at least some of his supporters eyeballing the governor's seat for him, though Faulconer has dismissed those ambitions.

The two-term City Council member highlighted fiscally conservative policies at City Hall between 2006 and 2013, serving part of that time as chair of the audit committee. He was then elected in a special runoff in 2014 after embattled mayor Bob Filner resigned amid a string of sexual harassment charges.

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