‘No one wants to bet on a losing horse’: Democrats dominate a North County district. How hard will they fight to win it?

The race for supervisor in North County could further solidify Democratic control of San Diego County government.

But even in a good year for Democrats and even though they outnumber Republicans in the district, county Democratic leaders and donors are investing their energies elsewhere.

The supervisor race between Republican Rebecca Jones and Democrat Kyle Krahel has become a sideshow in county politics as both sides of the aisle divert attention and resources to a key congressional race and a ballot measure to raise the county sales tax rate.

The two are looking to succeed Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Republican who faces term limits and is running for Congress.

Even though Democrats hold a firm grip on the Board of Supervisors — controlling three of its five seats — they’ve never held a supermajority. A fourth seat would give them even greater power to steer county government, letting them pass budget amendments without having to marshal Republican support.