The Challengers Weighing a Run at San Francisco’s Mayor

San Francisco voters say in poll after poll that they’re unhappy with the direction of their city and that they don’t like Mayor London Breed. They say they want better leadership to solve homelessness, property crime, fentanyl overdoses and the city’s other crises.

And yet, the 2024 mayor’s race so far has a distinct air of “meh.” Only two challengers have declared that they will take on Breed: Ahsha Safai, a member of the Board of Supervisors, and Daniel Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune. Neither is gaining much traction.

Even an unpopular mayor may have a large enough incumbency advantage in San Francisco to ward off many challengers. It’s been 28 years since a mayor — the former police chief Frank Jordan — got the boot after just one term.

Still, at least three names of potential mayoral candidates are now being bandied about in the city.

One is Mark Farrell, a former member of the Board of Supervisors who was interim mayor for six months in 2018 after the death of Mayor Ed Lee. Farrell has since faded from public view, apparently enjoying the quieter, more lucrative life of venture capitalism while raising three children. But he is strongly considering challenging Breed, and a “Draft Mayor Mark” campaign has emerged.

Farrell indicated in a statement that he was considering a run. “San Francisco has cratered over the past five years,” he said. “In all my recent conversations, one consistent theme has emerged: Nobody believes Mayor Breed, or any of her challengers, has the experience, policies and leadership to turn San Francisco around.”

Another possible candidate is Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors. He said Monday morning that he’d been asked three times already that day whether he’d enter the race. He said incumbents had such a strong advantage that he thought Breed would win despite not being popular.

“I am not inclined to run for mayor,” he said. “It’s a very, very difficult job, and these are even more difficult times.”

Another possibility: Manny Yekutiel, who runs the civic engagement space Manny’s, recently told The San Francisco Chronicle that he might jump into the race. On Monday, he said, “I’m seriously considering running for mayor.”

It remains too early to tell how the race will shape up. Lurie, the Levi Strauss heir who is also a founder of the anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point Community, will have plenty of resources available.

He said he had raised more than $500,000 from 1,300 donors since entering the field in September. He stands to benefit even more from an independent committee run by Dan Newman and Brian Brokaw, two longtime advisers to Gov. Gavin Newsom, that could raise millions from Lurie’s wealthy network of supporters.

Newman declined to say whether he’d talked to the governor about the mayoral race. Lurie’s wife, Becca Prowda, has been a longtime ally of the governor, having worked for him when he was mayor and serving now as his director of protocol.

Safai, the supervisor who became Ms. Breed’s first official challenger, said that rumors of additional candidates had been swirling for months, but that it was one thing to consider entering the race — and another to be able to run the city.

“This is not an easy endeavor,” he said. “You’ve got to be ready to lead and take on a city in crisis.”

Maggie Muir, a political consultant for Breed, said it was notable that the likely challengers are men, who are white, with less experience than the mayor, a Black woman.

Muir pointed to auto break-ins and retail theft being down this year and a variety of law enforcement agencies tackling fentanyl markets together.

“I bet you now, none of them will propose anything different than what she’s already doing,” Muir said.

The political consultant Jim Stearns, who’s not working for anyone in the race, said he agreed that it’s Breed’s race to lose. But he thinks there’s someone who can beat her: the city attorney, David Chiu.

Stearns pointed to Chiu’s experience on the Board of Supervisors and in the State Assembly, his ability to swing between the progressive and moderate camps, and his Chinese background in a city where a third of the residents are Asian.

Chiu, though, said he was planning to run next year for another four years as city attorney.

Where we’re traveling

Today’s tip comes from SK Tomczak, who lives in Novato:

“My family and I love exploring Big Sur and its surroundings. One can hike to numerous trails. One of our favorite trails would be the Pfeiffer Falls and the Valley View trail. With its amazing nature vibe and beauty, one can appreciate hiking along the trail with few hikers around.

From Highway 1, we would stop by the Henry Miller Memorial Library to browse and read. Our favorite place to stay would be the Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, a place one can rest and feel refreshed. A place with charm and character. Finally, there are several cafes to pick from with breathtaking views of the Pacific.

No one can deny that Big Sur is uniquely beautiful. It is such an icon for us living in Northern California.”

Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Email your suggestions to [email protected]. We’ll be sharing more in upcoming editions of the newsletter.

Tell us

What will be your New Year’s resolutions? Tell me what you’re hoping for in 2024.

Email us at [email protected]. Please include your full name and the city in which you live.

And before you go, some good news

A bus driver in Los Angeles has been moonlighting as an amateur trumpeter and, to the delight of passengers and onlookers, his venue of choice is right inside his bus and showtime is daily.

Kazi Myers, a driver for the Big Blue Bus service in Santa Monica, has begun practicing his instrument during 20-minute breaks in his route along Grand Boulevard in Venice.

The performances, which vary in tone and material, have piqued the interest of passengers and residents along his route, many of whom have been moved by the soulful sets. Myers has even won a few loyal fans who now look forward to his nightly stops and the chance for some music.