By Chris Jennewein
Times of San Diego
SAN DIEGO — Sara Jacobs, who narrowly lost a bid for Congress in the 49th District last year, announced Saturday her candidacy for the 53rd District seat held by retiring Rep. Susan Davis.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck time,” Jacobs said in an email to supporters. “Our country is at a defining moment, and I believe it’s more important than ever to have representatives who understand the federal government, can repair what’s been broken by the Trump Administration and years of dysfunction in Washington, and who have a forward-looking vision for a more equitable future.”
The district encompasses many of San Diego’s older central neighborhoods, including Hillcrest, Mission Hills, North Park, Talmadge and San Carlos, and stretches east to La Mesa, Lemon Grove and El Cajon. and south to Chula Vista and Otay Mesa.
Last year Jacobs narrowly lost to fellow Democrat Mike Levin in the district encompassing north coastal San Diego and south Orange counties.
“Last year, we showed that San Diego was ready for a new generation of leadership in Congress,” Jacobs said. “Although we came up short, I am proud of the hundreds of organizers and volunteers who made up our campaign and shared our vision for how we could do things differently.”
She said her platform would include support for Medicare for all and the Green New Deal.
Jacobs currently works as a scholar in residence at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego. She served in policy positions at the State Department during the Obama Administration, and at UNICEF and the United Nations. She also worked as a policy advisor to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Born and raised in San Diego, Jacobs attended local public schools and graduated from Torrey Pines High School. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Columbia University.
Jacobs’ retirement has set off a scramble among potential Democratic candidates, with City Council President Georgette Gomez expressing interest and Jose Caballero and Joaquín Vázquez already announced. There is not yet a Republican contender in the deep-blue district.
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Preceding republished from Times of San Diego, which shares stories with San Diego Jewish World under auspices of the San Diego Online News Association. Jacobs, a member of the Jewish community, is the granddaughter of Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs.