The San Diego County Democratic Party will choose their next chair Aug. 19 in one of the most contentious leadership races in recent memory, pitting former chair Will Rodriguez-Kennedy against former South County Vice Chair Sarah Ochoa. The winner will lead the party into high-stakes fights ahead — from possible congressional redistricting to the 2026 election cycle.

Rodriguez-Kennedy, who led the party from 2019 to 2022, is running on a platform of reclaiming more than 124,000 voters he says were “left behind” in the last election, expanding the party’s reach, and unifying a fractured membership. His campaign comes amid sharp criticism from opponents and renewed discussion of past controversies, such as a sex scandal that unfolded in 2022, which he addresses directly here.

In this Q&A,

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