Will Rodriguez-Kennedy was elected chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party on Tuesday in an emotional Zoom meeting of the party’s Central Committee.

Rodriguez-Kennedy, who stepped aside as party chair in May 2022 amid sex-assault accusations, defeated former South Area Vice Chair Sara Ochoa 37-27, with three votes going to last-minute candidate Lori Saldaña, the former Assembly member.

No charges were brought, and a lawsuit by Rodriguez-Kennedy’s former boyfriend was dropped.

Becca Taylor was elected chair in January 2023 to succeed Rodriguez-Kennedy after he stepped down. Taylor lost her life in a motorcycle crash in July 2024.

Taylor was succeeded by Kyle Krahel-Frolander (who quit the chair role to run for county supervisor in the North County) and then by Ross Pike, who ran

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