San Diego considers an openly gay GOP mayor

"Two leading Republican contenders for mayor of America's eighth-largest city are openly gay, and voters have barely noticed. It doesn't come up at campaign appearances or in local news coverage."

San Diego County district attorney and mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis, right, looks on as San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders speaks to supporters during a fundraiser in La Jolla, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011. Two leading Republican contenders for mayor of America's eighth-largest city are openly gay, and voters have barely noticed.

San Diego, which has had Republican mayors since 1992, could easily become the nation's largest city to ever choose an openly gay GOP leader, said Donald Haider-Markel, a Kansas University political science professor who published a book last year on gays in public office. Gay Republicans have historically been hindered by lack of support from party leaders and financial backers.

Read more: sfgate.com