San Francisco’s mayoral candidates are increasingly focusing on District 5, where Mayor London Breed and former Supervisor Mark Farrell are backing different contenders in the supervisor race against incumbent Dean Preston.
Political newcomer Scotty Jacobs announced today that he has received Farrell’s endorsement, while earlier this month, Breed expressed her support for Bilal Mahmood, another emerging candidate. Preston, who has been in office for a while, continues to enjoy support from Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who attended Preston’s re-election event before declaring his own candidacy for mayor.
In contrast, candidates in other districts have not attracted the same level of attention from the mayoral hopefuls; Farrell has yet to endorse anyone in the remaining five supervisor races, and Daniel Lurie has not made any endorsements. Breed and Peskin have also only sporadically endorsed candidates citywide.
The race in District 5 is particularly watched, with candidates representing the diverse area from Haight-Ashbury to the Tenderloin raising nearly $1 million in contributions and public financing, complemented by outside groups aiming to unseat the city’s most progressive elected official.
Peskin’s support for Preston is a strategic move, as the two have been long-time colleagues and share similar political views. Progressive voters in District 5 are expected to back both Preston for supervisor and Peskin for mayor.
Political analysts suggest that the endorsements from mayoral candidates may not have a significant impact on the District 5 supervisor race. Instead, these endorsements could bolster the profiles of the mayoral candidates themselves.
Farrell is not well known in the progressive-leaning district, and his past conservative policies have faced resistance from local residents. Campaign consultant Jim Stearns noted that Farrell’s motivation for endorsing Jacobs appears more about garnering votes for himself than helping Jacobs succeed.
Jacobs, who advocates for tougher public safety measures, confirmed his support for Farrell’s mayoral campaign and has raised $23,355 as of June 30. He expressed gratitude for Farrell’s endorsement, highlighting their mutual commitment to improving San Francisco.
Jacobs described District 5 as pivotal in the changing political landscape and emphasized shared policy goals with Farrell, such as enhancing police presence and supporting certain measures regarding homelessness and welfare.
Another political observer indicated that Farrell could be seeking to differentiate himself from Breed by endorsing Jacobs and appealing to potential supporters with different political views. They remarked that the endorsements are not necessarily about winning District 5, but rather about signaling to other stakeholders.
Breed’s endorsement of Mahmood may also serve to solidify her support among constituents, especially considering her previous conflicts with Preston. Mahmood has garnered backing from notable tech industry figures, which aligns with Breed’s interests.
However, Breed’s mixed popularity could pose a risk for Mahmood’s candidacy, as association with an unpopular mayor might deter voters looking for an independent supervisor.
Both candidates expect to collaborate with those they are endorsing if they win their respective races. Breed noted the importance of having a supportive supervisor in her own jurisdiction, while Farrell described Jacobs as a much-needed voice for the future of San Francisco.
This article has been updated to clarify that Breed has made endorsements in additional districts.