Protect San Diego PAC Targets Crosby in Council Race

The political action committee is circulating mailers that claim Council candidate Nicole Crosby supports surveillance cameras.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a geometric archway, evoking the weight of local municipal policy and surveillance concerns. — Protect San Diego PAC is circulating campaign mailers targeting District 2 candidate Nicole Crosby over her stance on citywide surveillance technology deployment. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should political campaigns be held legally liable for distributing misleading information in their mailers?

The political action committee Protect San Diego is distributing mailers that label San Diego City Council District 2 candidate Nicole Crosby as a supporter of Flock surveillance technology. Crosby has publicly denounced the camera system and its deployment throughout the city.

Why it matters

The outcome of the District 2 election could determine whether the City Council secures a sixth vote, which is necessary to override a potential mayoral veto of the current surveillance policy.

San Diego currently operates over 500 Flock surveillance cameras, and the City Council maintains a 5-4 majority against the expanded use of the technology. A sixth vote is required to overcome a potential mayoral veto of the camera policy.

The players

Nicole Crosby

She is a candidate for the San Diego City Council in District 2 and works as a prosecutor for the City Attorney's office.

Richard Bailey

He is a candidate for the San Diego City Council in the District 2 race.

Steven Richter

He is the sole financier of the Protect San Diego political action committee.

Protect San Diego

This is a political action committee that has financed mailers targeting the District 2 council race.

The details

The mailers sent by Protect San Diego claim that politicians who support the camera system are backing the candidacy of Nicole Crosby. Crosby, who currently serves as a prosecutor for the City Attorney's office, is running against Richard Bailey for the District 2 seat.

The District 2 City Council election is scheduled for 2026.
Steven Richter donated $1 million to the Lincoln Club PAC in 2024.
The mailer controversy was highlighted on October 28, 2026.

Political Context

While California law restricts misinformation regarding candidate endorsements and incumbency status, the U.S. Supreme Court protects political messaging that contains deceptive information under the First Amendment. This creates a challenging environment for candidates seeking to litigate campaign mailers.

The District 2 election will dictate the future of the city's surveillance policies and whether the council can override mayoral vetos. Voters should verify campaign claims regarding candidate positions before heading to the polls in 2026.

The takeaway

Voters should be aware that campaign literature from political action committees often utilizes aggressive framing that may not align with a candidate's stated public platform. Evaluating candidates based on their official records and stated policy goals remains the most effective way to discern their platform.