San Francisco Mayor Race: Daniel Lurie Wins in a Landslide
A New Era of Leadership
Philanthropist and Levi’s heir Daniel Lurie has won the hard-fought race for San Francisco mayor, ushering in a new era of leadership for a city whose voters made clear they are fed up with brazen retail theft and sprawling tent cities.
The Results
The election was a two-day process under San Francisco’s ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to select multiple candidates by order of preference. The city uses a multiround process to count the ballots, and it can take several rounds of tallying before a winner receives more than 50% of the vote. Though thousands of votes remained uncounted Thursday evening, the gap of support between Lurie and his opponents was deemed too big to bridge.
The Winner
Lurie, a centrist Democrat, outpaced incumbent Mayor London Breed and three other prominent local Democrats, receiving 56.2% of the total ranked-choice vote compared with Breed’s 43.8% as of Thursday’s count.
The Candidates
Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, the only leading candidate running as an old-school progressive, came in third after being eliminated from the running with 21.6% of first-choice votes. Venture capitalist Mark Farrell, a moderate, trailed in fourth place. Supervisor Ahsha Safaí was knocked out of the running early after getting just 2.7% of first-choice votes.
The Vision
Lurie issued a brief statement on social media Thursday night thanking supporters. In an election night event Tuesday, he summarized his leadership vision for jubilant supporters gathered at a music venue in the Mission district to cheer him on. "Our challenge and opportunity is to show how government can deliver on its promise of a safer and more affordable city," Lurie said. "And executing on these promises requires us to be courageous, compassionate and honest. It’s never been more clear to me that so many people love this city, and it’s time for us to start making people feel like the city loves them back."
The Transition
The transition from Breed to Lurie is a remarkable turn on many fronts. Breed, 50, made history six years ago when she became the city’s first Black female mayor. She was born into poverty in the Western Addition, at the time one of San Francisco’s toughest neighborhoods, and raised by her grandmother. She lost a sister to a drug overdose and has a brother in prison for robbery. Before being elected mayor, she was president of the powerful Board of Supervisors.
The Election
Throughout the campaign, Lurie distinguished himself as a political outsider running against four City Hall veterans. He pledged to root out government corruption, a concern among voters following a series of political scandals in city departments and nonprofits in recent years. The election was broadly viewed as a referendum on Breed’s efforts to address homeless encampments, crime and a flagging post-pandemic economy that cut at voters’ sense of a safe, well-functioning city.
Conclusion
The election marks a significant shift for San Francisco, with voters opting for a centrist candidate who promises to address the city’s pressing issues. Lurie’s victory is a testament to the city’s desire for change and his ability to connect with voters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Daniel Lurie?
A: Daniel Lurie is a philanthropist and Levi’s heir who has won the election for San Francisco mayor.
Q: What was the outcome of the election?
A: Lurie received 56.2% of the total ranked-choice vote, outpacing incumbent Mayor London Breed and three other prominent local Democrats.
Q: What were the main issues in the election?
A: The election was broadly viewed as a referendum on Breed’s efforts to address homeless encampments, crime and a flagging post-pandemic economy that cut at voters’ sense of a safe, well-functioning city.
Q: What does Lurie’s victory mean for San Francisco?
A: Lurie’s victory marks a significant shift for San Francisco, with voters opting for a centrist candidate who promises to address the city’s pressing issues.
