Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, though some candidates do receive funding and support from various political parties.

Donna Frye, a member of the San Diego City Council who had almost beaten Murphy with a write-in campaign in the 2004 election, was the only democrat among the top-tier candidates.

Steve Francis, founder and chairman of AMN Healthcare Services emphasized downsizing city government and implementing business principles.

Lawyer Pat Shea ran on a platform that San Diego should declare bankruptcy to deal with the pension scandal, a position that the other front runners disagreed with.

[4] Frye won the plurality of votes in the July primary and advanced to the general election along with runner-up Sanders.