Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the first round, a runoff election was held between the top two vote-getters on February 11, 2014.

Despite continuing pressure to resign, he remained in office until he and the city reached a mediated agreement in August 2013, under which he agreed to resign and the city of San Diego agreed to help pay his legal fees.

Nathan Fletcher narrowly missed the runoff with 24.3 percent of the vote, just as he had when he previously run in the 2012 mayoral election.

[15] Although local elections are officially non-partisan per the California constitution, major candidates typically publicly align themselves with political parties.

On February 11, 2014, Kevin Faulconer received 52.9 percent majority in the run-off vote and was elected mayor of San Diego.