San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has won re-election over a wealthy rival and three other challengers. Sanders has nearly 54 percent of the vote with almost all precincts reporting Wednesday morning.
Fellow Republican Steve Francis did not concede defeat but only took 35 percent. He committed more than $4 million of his fortune in hopes of forcing a November runoff election but failed to stop the mayor from breaking the 50 percent barrier.
Self-proclaimed revolutionary Eric Bidwell won only 3 percent of the vote despite embarrassing the frontrunners. Sanders' campaign manager resigned after Bidwell revealed that the Sanders campaign fed him talking points trashing Francis.
