Rebecca Taylor, the diehard political activist who rode her passion for democracy to the pinnacle of the San Diego County Democratic Party and helped swing a long-conservative region into more progressive territory, died this week following a motorcycle accident in Utah. She was 40 years old.
Official details about the crash have not yet been released, but according to friends and colleagues, she was struck from behind while riding one of her treasured Harley-Davidson motorcycles and suffered injuries that proved fatal.
Word of the accident ricocheted across San Diego County and beyond Wednesday, as a slew of remembrances and memorials were shared by colleagues, admirers and elected officials.
“Her strong, calm and measured leadership was critical when the former chairman of the Democratic Party blew up a few years ago,” said Laurie Black, a longtime leader in the San Diego business and political communities.
“All you have to do is look at the nine city council members elected in San Diego these last few years,” Black said. “She was not chair when Nathan Fletcher was elected to the Board of Supervisors, but she certainly helped Nora Vargas get elected in 2020, and we’ve had the majority ever since.”
Vargas issued a statement praising Taylor as a remarkable leader and cherished member of the broader San Diego community.
“Becca’s legacy of service, advocacy and kindness made a lasting impact on the San Diego region,” said Vargas, now chair of the county Board of Supervisors. “My heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and all who knew her.”
As chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party, Taylor had tremendous influence over political contributions and endorsements. In party politics, the board chair sets the agenda in determining who will receive economic and other support from the party and who will appear on influential campaign mailers.
Taylor — Becca to her friends and colleagues — was the oldest of six siblings, each born in a different state, according to a profile published early last year by the Times of San Diego.
She was born in Idaho but grew up in small-town Texas before enrolling at Virginia Tech. She left school in 2004 and joined the Navy, serving five years as an aviation electrician and meeting deployments in Germany and Afghanistan.
Afterward, Taylor was married in 2009, but the union did not last. The couple parted amicably, and Taylor returned to San Diego, where she had previously been stationed.
In San Diego, she renewed her education. She earned a political science degree from the study-abroad program at the University of Oxford and later a master’s degree from San Diego State University.
By then, Taylor had begun working for local political campaigns.
“We met Becca Taylor when she worked as an organizer in our 2014 re-election campaign,” said a statement from the office of U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, the San Diego Democrat.
“It was a tough and tense one, but above the dull roar of a packed campaign office, we could hear Becca’s distinct and upbeat voice cheering others on, a one-person pep squad,” it added. “Since that time, we’re remained loyal friends and supporters of one another.”
Taylor held a number of professional jobs since earning her master’s. Most recently she was working as a sales and marketing specialist at Political Data Inc., a voter data firm based in Sacramento.
Elected officials from every level of government weighed in on Taylor’s contribution to the San Diego County Democrats.
“Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden loss of Rebecca Taylor,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “Her dedication to public service and her remarkable impact on the San Diego community will never be forgotten.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said he was heartbroken to learn of her death and said she would be deeply missed.
“Becca was a tremendous and fierce leader for our local Democratic Party, but she was so much more than that,” the mayor said. “She was a daughter, sister veteran, friend to many and a bright light who inspired all of us to live life to the fullest.”
Taylor spent years helping elect Democrats to public office before being thrust into the chair’s seat on the San Diego County Democratic Party board in 2022, when then-chair Will Rodriguez Kennedy stepped aside amid sexual assault allegations.
After being quickly named acting chair of the county Democratic Party, Taylor later was unopposed when she ran for the seat early last year.
Rodriguez-Kennedy, who was investigated before prosecutors declined to file charges, credited Taylor with stabilizing the party at a critical time, and positioning the organization to keep winning elections.
“She was a brilliant mind, and she was tenacious,” he said. “When she set her mind to something, she was formidable. She was always someone you wanted in your corner.”
Even Taylor’s political rivals celebrated her work as a party leader.
“I went to college with Becca and remember that she brought laughter and fun to her friends and classmates,” said Corey Gustafson, chair of the county Republican Party. “While we had our political differences, I respected her commitment and passion.”
In addition to her service to Democrats locally and across the state, Taylor co-founded the veterans caucus of the California Young Democrats and served with the Democratic Women’s Club and the Blue Dream Democrats.
She also served on the Ocean Beach Town Council and was once elected to the executive board of the California Democratic Party.
Kyle Krahel-Frolander is now serving as acting chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party board. He said Taylor made an incalculable impact across the community and moved San Diego toward a brighter future.
“She was more than just a leader, she was a public servant,” Krahel-Frolander said in a statement released by the party. “We are all just beginning to process this shocking and devastating loss.
“Becca’s family and extended network of loved ones are in our thoughts as we mourn together,” he said.
No information about services was immediately available.
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