Chris Cate and Carol Kim were the top two vote-getters in the primary for the open seat in District 6.

[1] The primary victories by Cole and Alvarez ensured that self-identified Democrats would continue to control at least a five-seat majority on the City Council.

However, the District 6 general election race left open the question of whether or not they would also continue to control a six-seat two-thirds supermajority of the city council, allowing them to overrule a mayoral veto by Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer on issues that split along party lines.

[3] On March 3, 2014, Kevin Faulconer resigned from the City Council to assume the office of mayor of San Diego, having won the special election to replace Bob Filner.

Incumbent council member Ed Harris, who had been appointed to finish the balance of Kevin Faulconer's term, was ineligible to run for reelection.

Incumbent council member Myrtle Cole was reelected with a majority of the vote in June primary.

[3] District 8 consisted of the southern communities of San Diego and those along the Mexico–United States border, including the communities of Barrio Logan, Egger Highlands, Grant Hill, Logan Heights, Memorial, Nestor, Ocean View Hills, Otay Mesa West, Otay Mesa East, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton, and Tijuana River Valley.

Incumbent council member David Alvarez was elected after receiving a majority of the votes in the June primary.