Ammar Campa-Najjar at Election Central in Golden Hall in 2018, after his unsuccessful congressional bid. Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)
For the second straight general election, San Diego will be without Election Central, the nonpartisan downtown gathering for election results that had become a genuine civic tradition.
The big picture: Because Golden Hall — the convention space inside the Civic Center complex — is operating as a homeless shelter, it can't be used as a central gathering place for media, candidates, supporters and the general public to view election results.
Driving the news: The Registrar of Voters is instead hosting a central count at its Kearny Mesa headquarters, with an observation gallery to see ballots being delivered from vote centers and added to the count.
The media is invited and TV crews will deliver live hits from inside and outside the headquarters, but there is not a lineup of temporary studios for live coverage, as Election Central had.
Flashback: Election Central used to draw a crowd of the general public, from high school classes and youth groups to political junkies, activists and professional consultants, all standing shoulder-to-shoulder with officials ready to take a victory lap with an entourage of supporters.
Political parties, outside groups and campaigns would host their election night parties at nearby hotels, turning the area around City Hall into a rare and unique civic gathering.
