Abraham Widens Lead Over Foster in District 4

Martha Abraham extends her lead over incumbent Henry Foster III in San Diego City Council District 4 as Nicole Crosby holds steady in District 2.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Elections

Abraham Widens Lead Over Foster in District 4

Live Poll

Should San Diego end its use of Flock license plate-reading cameras?

Political newcomer Martha Abraham has increased her lead over incumbent Henry Foster III in San Diego City Council District 4. Nicole Crosby holds a steady lead over Richard Bailey in District 2.

Why it matters

The District 4 race centers on the city's use of Flock license plate-reading technology, which Foster sought to end, and Abraham has not been clear about her own position on it. The outcome will shape how San Diego handles surveillance and the Flock contract on the council.

The county Registrar of Voters reported Lee leading Powell 60.2% to 39.8% in District 6, with 17,805 votes to 11,769. In District 2, Bailey took 35% in the June primary while the two Democratic candidates together drew about 47%, and the final outcome is still unsettled.

The players

Martha Abraham

Martha Abraham is a political newcomer running for San Diego City Council District 4 against incumbent Henry Foster III.

Henry Foster III

Henry Foster III is the incumbent San Diego City Council member for District 4 who led efforts to end the city's use of Flock license plate-reading technology.

Nicole Crosby

Nicole Crosby is a Democratic candidate for San Diego City Council District 2 who holds a steady lead over Richard Bailey.

Richard Bailey

Richard Bailey is a former Coronado mayor and Republican who changed his registration to no party preference and is running in San Diego City Council District 2.

The details

Foster led efforts to end the city's use of Flock license plate-reading technology and tried to defund the contract through the June budget process before seeking to bring the issue before the full council this month. Abraham, a political newcomer, criticized the incumbent administration's policies for not delivering high-paying jobs, affordable housing and reliable infrastructure, and says she plans to bring a public health perspective to city planning.

February: Richard Bailey changed his registration to no party preference.
June: Bailey won the District 2 primary and Foster sought to defund the Flock contract in the budget.
November 2026: Foster tried to bring the Flock issue before the full council.

Political Context

The contest over San Diego's Flock license plate-reading contract is the core dispute, with Foster pushing to end it through the budget and council process. Abraham's stance on the technology remains unclear, so the District 4 result could decide whether the city's surveillance program continues.

The outcome of these council races will determine who represents District 4 and District 2 and whether the city keeps the Flock license plate-reading program. Residents in Paradise Hills, Lincoln Park, Encanto, Oak Park, Point Loma, Ocean Beach and Kearny Mesa will be affected by the policies these members set.

The takeaway

Local council races often turn on single contested policies, and the San Diego Flock debate shows how a budget item can become the central issue in an election. Voters weighing these races should look at each candidate's stated position on the technology and the public-safety tradeoffs it carries.