Elliott leads in 40th State Senate district; two Republicans battling for second spot

With 23.2 percent of the vote counted in San Diego County, Elliott, the former San Diego City Attorney, has 44.6 percent of the vote.

Kristie Bruce-Lane, a businesswoman and nonprofit leader backed by Carl DeMaio’s Reform San Diego, currently sits in second place with 29.93 percent. Closely behind is Ed Musgrove, a retired sheriff’s captain and current San Marcos City Councilmember, who secured the endorsement of the San Diego County Republican Party and holds 25.38 percent of the vote.

The 40th District is widely considered one of the state’s premier battlegrounds, with the open seat being vacated by Jones, the current state Senate Minority Leader.

Following the state’s 2021 redistricting cycle, the newly drawn boundaries created a sprawling “purple” district across San Diego County. The district features a nearly dead-even voter registration split, with 35 percent Democratic voters, 34 percent Republican voters and 24 percent with no party preference.

Geographically, the district covers a highly diverse blend of suburban hubs, mountain towns and northern San Diego neighborhoods, including Santee, Escondido, Poway and San Marcos; Rancho Bernardo, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Rancho Peñasquitos and University City; and the unincorporated communities of Alpine, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Fallbrook, Ramona, Valley Center and Bonsall.

While the district has historically leaned Republican, recent voting patterns show it trending Democrat.

Elliott (photo, right) campaigned on regulatory protections, specialized mental health treatment facilities and social support frameworks to address homelessness.

Bruce-Lane, a a twice-unsuccessful Assembly candidate aligned with DeMaio’s ultra-conservative stance, has championed strict border security, the repeal of California’s sanctuary state laws and an overhaul of housing-first homelessness policies.

Musgrove, drawing on his deep roots as an Army veteran, has run on a law enforcement platform, pushing for increased state funding for local police forces and prosecuting repeat violent offenders.