Mayoral election in San Francisco, California (2019)

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San Francisco elections, 2019

Mayor

District Attorney

Other races
District 5 seat of the board of supervisors, city attorney, public defender, sheriff, treasurer, and one community college district seat

General election: November 5, 2019
Last election: 2018
Next election: 2020

The city of San Francisco, California, held a general election for mayor on November 5, 2019. The filing deadline for this election was June 11, 2019.[1] In San Francisco, ranked-choice voting is used in mayoral elections.[2]

Candidates in this race have filled out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To view their responses, click here.

Incumbent London Breed won election in the general election for Mayor of San Francisco.

Elections

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

Candidates and results

General election

General election for Mayor of San Francisco

The ranked-choice voting election was won by London Breed in round 1 .


Total votes: 177,192
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Endorsements

Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Past elections

2018

See also: Mayoral election in San Francisco, California (2018)

The following candidates ran in the San Francisco mayoral special election.[3]

San Francisco mayor, Special Election, 2018
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png London Breed 36.60% 89,580
Mark Leno 24.61% 60,229
Jane Kim 24.03% 58,808
Angela Alioto 6.97% 17,060
Ellen Lee Zhou 3.81% 9,332
Richie Greenberg 2.82% 6,903
Amy Farah Weiss 0.66% 1,620
Michelle Bravo 0.35% 849
Write-in votes 0.16% 385
Total Votes 244,766
Source: San Francisco Department of ElectionsThese election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.

2015

See also: San Francisco, California municipal elections, 2015

The city of San Francisco, California, held elections for mayor and board of supervisors on November 3, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was June 9, 2015.[4] In the mayoral race, incumbent Edwin M. Lee defeated Kent Graham, Francisco Herrera, Reed Martin, Stuart Schuffman and Amy Farah Weiss.[5]

Mayor of San Francisco General Election, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngEdwin M. Lee Incumbent 55.3% 105,298
Francisco Herrera 15% 28,638
Amy Farah Weiss 12.1% 23,099
Stuart Schuffman 9.6% 18,211
Kent Graham 4.6% 8,775
Reed Martin 2.4% 4,612
Write-in votes 0.9% 1,764
Total Votes 184,021
Source: City & County of San Francisco, "November 3, 2015 Official Election Results," accessed November 23, 2015

2011

Lee was elected on November 8, 2011. At the time of the 2011 municipal elections, he was still the interim Mayor of San Francisco.[6]

Mayor of San Francisco, 2011
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngEdwin Lee Incumbent 30.7% 59,663
Jeff Adachi 6.4% 12,515
John Avalos 19.3% 37,395
Dennis Herrera 11.3% 21,882
David Chiu 9.2% 17,893
Leland Yee 7.5% 14,566
Bevan Dufty 4.7% 9,193
Tony Hall 3.6% 6,914
Michela Alioto-Pier 3.4% 6,620
Joanna Rees 1.6% 3,096
Terry Baum 0.9% 1,662
Phil Ting 0.5% 1,013
Cesar Ascarrunz 0.3% 532
Wilma Pang 0.2% 440
Emil Lawrence 0.2% 377
Paul Currier 0.1% 247
Write-in 0.1% 201
Total Votes 149,348
Source: San Francisco Elections - 2011 Election Results

Additional elections on the ballot

See also: California elections, 2019

What's on your ballot?
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Mayoral partisanship

Once mayors elected in 2019 assumed office, the mayors of 65 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Out of the 31 mayoral elections that were held in 2019 in the 100 largest cities, five partisan changes occurred. Democrats gained three mayorships: two previously held by Republicans and one previously held by an independent. Republicans won one office held by an unaffiliated mayor, and one office where the incumbent's partisan affiliation was unknown.

In the elections in Phoenix, Arizona and Wichita, Kansas, Democrats won seats with Republican incumbents. In Wichita, Democrat Brandon Whipple defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Longwell. In Raleigh, North Carolina, a Democrat won a seat previously held by an independent. In Aurora, Colorado, a Republican succeeded an unaffiliated mayor. In Garland, Texas, a Republican succeeded a mayor with unknown party affiliation. Incumbents did not seek re-election in Phoenix, Raleigh, Aurora, or Garland.

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What was at stake?

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Candidate survey

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Candidate Connection

Paul Ybarra Robertson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Robertson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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I am a hard working citizen of San Francisco for 30 years. I have much and varied real life experience. A USMC veteran, mailman/union steward, college educated, BA UC Berkeley, MA USF, SF public and private school educator (Dean of Students), and small business owner. Simply comes a point when someone watches everyday as the city he loves circles down the toilet bowl and cannot sit idly by and watch it any longer without exercising his duty as a citizen to try and stop it. Now don't get me wrong, there is so,so much to love in this city, the most beautiful city in this country. I want to keep it that way and make it even better. But the homeless situation, the crime, the rampant open air drug sales and use, the potholes, the traffic congestion this has to change. Now. I can and will get those things I campaign on done, I will fight tooth and nail for the citizens of this one of a kind world class city. Please review my website, paulybarrarobertsonformayor2019.com And pleas consider me when you vote....thank you very much, semper fidelis Paul
solving the homeless situation, infrastructure, especially paving our streets and solving our mass transit and traffic congestion problems.
I am a leader by example, honest and I like to fight for the little guy.
in the 4th grade, I had a paper route. I delivered the local hometown paper that came out every Thursday. I had about 50 customers, I would walk downtown after school, pick up my papers and begin my route, and yes I did it all by my little self. Made between 4-5 dollars a week! Big money to me then! I then graduated to the daily afternoon paper, The Phoenix Gazette. Then to the daily morning big boy route the Arizona Republic which I delivered up to some time in my senior year.
What else.... 1 877 Kars 4 Kids.... it's everywhere
Probably the unbelievably perfect weather, the beauty of the place and of course the wonderful diversity of its people.
Developing and sustaining a thriving middle class and getting kids into our public school system.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Candidate Connection

Ellen Lee Zhou completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Zhou's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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1. Create programs to release 50,000 to 75,000 empty apartments to help teachers, workers and families, so they can stay in San Francisco. Housing shortage created by mono-party, democrats only for the last 45 years. Unfair housing policies killed the housing market for good tenants and workes. Tenants have been abused and used by mono-party's failing policies. We, the people need to take back San Francisco.

2. Work with federal government to arrest those who abused their political power, clean up city hall, remove those who abused their public positions, arrest the drug dealers off the streets, heal the homeless and drug abusers from the far-left liberals that have been destroying people's livelihood. Every life matters. We are all human beings with dignity. With a $12.3 billion dollar budget, no one should suffer and die on the streets!

3. Audit the public checkbook to reduce government waste, create programs to hold all government employees accountable. San Francisco has so much money, we all should be enjoying our qualify of life, not like what we see right now, people suffer from car break-ins, crimes, tyranny government created by far-left democrats who are socialists! We lost our constitution rights in San Francisco.
Create a republic form of government, representing by different political parties. Currently, only one party for 45 years, democrats only, not good for people, not good for public policies or regulations.

Create fair housing policies to protect tenants and small property owners, San Franciscans will create priorities to affordable housing.
Create programs to heal the homeless and the sick, give them homes and jobs to live an independent live, work with the federal government to protect our health and wealth from people sold out America! America first. California first. San Francisco first!
Empower tenants, workers, parents, youths, children and all people in San Francisco to take part of people's government. It is the people run the government, not the politicians abuse their government position to run people's lives.

Train San Franciscans to stand up for the United States constitution. We are one nation under God. We will take back San Francisco.
I modeled after my Lord, my savior and my teacher Jesus Christ. Jesus taught me "treat others like I want to be treated". Love my neighbors like myself. I love my city. I am a Sunday School Teacher. I practice what I preach. I believe the Bible has all the answers to our day to day problems. I love to share my life with people in San Francisco. I love my country. I do what it takes to defend America. America is great because we have the U.S. constitution, the Bill for Rights to protect people to enjoy our freedom. We have the greatest liberty of all in the world. San Francisco has been destroyed by mono-party, tyranny government for many years. Wake up San Francisco! Let' take back San Francisco and make San Francisco safe and clean! Here I am for you, I stand up for each one of you, vote Ellen for Mayor!
Yes, 100%, the Bible. The Bible is the only Book that tells everything from the beginning of the world to present. The Bible is the past, present and the future of man kind. It is the greatest book of all. The Bible is the best seller of all books. May God bless San Francisco. America was great until 1960s when people attacked God and removed the ten commandment from all public schools. May God come back to heal our broken families. Traditional families is one of the keys to rebuild San Francisco. Only God's agape love can save San Francisco from the far-left liberals. We need God to bless our families to make San Francisco safe and clean!
Bring love, hope and faith to lead San Francisco back to traditional families. We have so many people born with no fathers or grow up with no mothers or no parents in San Francisco. We need leaders with family values and appreciate life to lead our city. I am that person with love, hope and faith to make San Francisco Safe and Clean! I am that mayor to put back law and ethics to protect our public. Here I am, elect me into the mayor's position, I will give back 50% of mayoral salary to create mayor's programs for children, youth, parents, workers, seniors, business and people in San Francisco. Together, we will reform our city with love and hope. Our city has been out of control, you have nothing to lose any more. We lost so much already. Vote for me Ellen Lee Zhou for San Francisco mayor on November 5, 2019. Together, we will improve our quality of life. We will make San Francisco Safe and Clean! We will rebuild a government that with run by tax payers.
I have my Master degree in Social Work. I am a Behavioral Health Clinician that I am trained to solve problems daily. I work with so many government employees and I know where the resources of the problems and solutions to the problems. I served two terms, San Francisco Civil Grand Jury 2014/2015 and 2016/2017, investigated government functions and corruption. Since July 2018, I serve as Director of Public Relations for California Civil Grand Juror Association, San Francisco Chapter. I was a June 2018, San Francisco Mayoral Candidate, Special Election. I went through the election process and found election fraud and voting fraud. I am 50 years old, married with two college children, , traditional family values and understand families are the foundation to healthy society. I have been a San Francisco resident for 33 year. For 25 years, I volunteer to empower people to stand up for their constitutional rights. I have been teaching Sunday School Teacher for San Francisco Evangelical Free Church for 23 years. I have been a

Family Social Worker for San Franciscans for 22 years. I have been a Behavioral Health Clinician with San Francisco Government, Public Health Department for 13 years. I train people how to behave, so that they can stay away from trouble. I have been working with the police to fight crimes, graduated from the Community Police Academy 2006. I have been a SEIU1021 Union Steward for San Francisco government employees for 12 years. I understand many of the problems created by career politicians.

I am a volunteer for Neighborhood Emergency Response Team member (NERT), SF Fire Department for five years. I was appointed by former Board of Supervisor David Campos, served as a Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee 2016/2017. As you can see my background, I am a perfect mayor to lead San Francisco with love, hope and faith.
As your new San Francisco mayor, I will put back rule of law in San Francisco, re-create programs with people from San Francisco who are impacted by existing bad public policies such as unfair rent control regulations, abusing homeless as machines for politicians to drain our public dollars, giving free needles to feed drug abusers' bad personal choice habit, etc. I will re-examine our public policies and I will work with people with integrity to rebuild a government representing the tax payers!
Ellen Lee Zhou, conservative republican will make San Francisco safe and clean, first female immigrant Asian mayor in San Francisco history. May God bless my life, so I can be a blessing to San Francisco. Every life matters! Everyone should have an opportunity to thrive! I will be your spoke person. I am your voice. I am your best choice to vote for mayor! Thank you for voting for me.
When I gave birth to my first born child, my son in 1997! Children are gifts from God. I thank my God for my son and my daughter. They are now in college away from home. I now have more time to devote my life to be the best mayor you can have. I will work hard to protect your health and wealth.
I was a farmer when I was in China. I did farming work when I was about five years old. I followed my mother to work in rice field. I enjoyed my childhood in my farm in the villages. I appreciate people in America for giving me a second chance of life. I thank the U.S. government for giving me a chance for public education. I thank San Francisco tax payers for paying my bi-weekly paycheck, so I can support my family. I thank my God Jesus Christ for making me whole. Yes, I am ready to dedicate my life to serve as San Francisco mayor. I will train people and empower people to take part of the people government, protect our children and youth from the far-left liberals!
I worked so hard and forgot I don't have to work that hard if I know I have a tomorrow to look forward.
Thanksgiving. This is the season to thank people for all their love and support.
The Bible because it has all the answers to life. It is a live book, book of life, the best seller of all type and all the time.
Superman, to have the power to help people in need.
A room with computer, so I can connect with people, listen to gospel music or watch good and positive movies online.
You raise me up. God raised me up. I was nothing until God lifted me up.
English is my fourth language and I am still learning all these American English style with present tense, pass tense, future tense, etc. I learn as I grow older. I earned three college degrees within 10 years. I am open to learn as part of my life commitment. I am a fast learner!
A mayor is a public servant, a gatekeeper for the city, to monitor trends and changes, watch out for the good, bad and ugly policies and regulations, to lead people with healthy mind, healthy habits, to protect and promote health and safety, make sure all people are equally having chances to thrive. Every life matters. Make sure each department head deliver qualify of services to meet the public expectation and needs. A mayor is everybody's servant with love and hope. I also bring joy to people and make people feeling happy when people meet me. I am a happy camper for all people in San Francisco!
As your new San Francisco Mayor, my job is be available for evaluation and do assessment to address any identified public issues that may have impact on people either good or bad. I will work with necessary people to address any or all issues we face. I am a solution provider. My current job title is "Behavioral Health Clinician" that I train people how to behave : ) ! I train people to get away from bad habits, so people can live a healthier and happier life.
All political parties should have a chance to participate in public hearings, policy planning, regulation preparation, etc. I will make sure we, the people will have people's power and voice in government policies. But, for the last 45 years, San Francisco has been corrupted by democrats. It is not about democrats! It is about who controlled the democratic party! Who are the people behind the democrats' agenda? Now, it is the time to take back our city and operate by the people, not just by a few elites through super PACs and matching funds that abusing our public money. Election Fraud! San Francisco has been paid and bought. But, this year, 2019, is the years for voters to vote me Ellen Lee Zhou into mayor's position, so I can implement what I share with you here today. You, voters have nothing to lose. We lost so much already.
Love and respect. Ethically and legally, it is not about the mayor or board of supervisors, it is the public. No public employee or elected officer should using their own feelings or judgement to set policies. It is based on facts and reports to meet the needs of San Francisco.
I love San Francisco because of the diversity groups and people from all over the world. San Francisco used to be a beautiful city with hope and dreams. But, the far-left liberals and socialist has been turning San Francisco into a filthy slum. It is about time to change leadership. I am that mayor and with new leadership skills that San Francisco needs. Vote Ellen Lee Zhou for mayor on November 5, 2019. Thank you.
1. Possible ongoing harassment from far-left liberals and socialists, aka democrats.

2. Huge earth quake or any natural disaster events, lack of expected revenue, crisis spending may be rocking.

3. Stock market may collapses, economy sinks, lay off public employees may happen.
Local government is able to focus on local level policies, with some financial help and resources from state level would be great. San Francisco is the resources created many of the out of control politicians, far, far-left socialism in Sacramento. We need people with common sense to run our government. We need people follow the rule of law to represent the government. I am the most suitable mayor to re-direct San Francisco back to normal, make it safe with love and hope. Vote Ellen Lee Zhou on November 5, 2019. You will be glad you did. Together, we will make San Francisco Safe and Clean!
I am a conservation republican. I am a traditional family value mother with common sense to protect San Francisco. I am trained to report illegal activities. I am instructed to report government wastes. I believe our current administration became a traitor of the people by acting out to protect criminals instead of protecting those who follow the law. I believe those who obstructed the federal agents to enforce immigration laws became traitors of the people. We believe without rule of law, San Francisco will continue to see all these problems with drug abuser, drug dealers, homeless problems, crimes, car break-ins, etc. But, if you don't like what you see now, vote for me Ellen Lee Zhou, within one year, I will manage and stop these on-going problems that have been going for many years. I will find solutions to improve our qualify of life and I will create programs to benefit all ages. Together, we will make San Francisco Safe and Clean. EllenforMayor2019.com. Thank you and may God bless San Francisco.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Ranked-choice voting

See also: Ranked-choice voting

In San Francisco, ranked-choice voting is used in all elections for mayor, assessor-recorder, city attorney, district attorney, public defender, sheriff, treasurer, and the board of supervisors.[7] In a ranked-choice voting system, voters rank candidates by preference on their ballots. If a candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, he or she is declared the winner. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. First-choice votes cast for the failed candidate are eliminated, lifting the second-preference choices indicated on those ballots. A new tally is conducted to determine whether any candidate has won a majority of the adjusted votes. The process is repeated until a candidate wins an outright majority. This system is sometimes referred to as an instant runoff voting system.[8][9]

About the city

See also: San Francisco, California

San Francisco is a city in California. It is consolidated with the County of San Francisco, which means that the city and county share a government and their boundaries are coterminous. As of 2010, its population was 805,235.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of San Francisco uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[10]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for San Francisco, California
San Francisco California
Population 805,235 37,253,956
Land area (sq mi) 46 155,857
Race and ethnicity**
White 46.4% 59.7%
Black/African American 5.2% 5.8%
Asian 34.4% 14.5%
Native American 0.4% 0.8%
Pacific Islander 0.4% 0.4%
Other (single race) 7.7% 14%
Multiple 5.6% 4.9%
Hispanic/Latino 15.2% 39%
Education
High school graduation rate 88.5% 83.3%
College graduation rate 58.1% 33.9%
Income
Median household income $112,449 $75,235
Persons below poverty level 10.3% 13.4%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


State profile

See also: California and California elections, 2019
USA California location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019

Presidential voting pattern

Congressional delegation

State executives

  • Democrats held 11 and Republicans held one of California's 22 state executive offices. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
  • California's governor was Democrat Gavin Newsom.

State legislature

California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R D D D D D R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Assembly D D D S R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

California quick stats
  • Became a state in 1850
  • 31st state admitted to the United States
  • As of 2018, California was the most populous state in the country.
  • Members of the California State Senate: 40
  • Members of the California State Assembly: 80
  • U.S. senators: 2
  • U.S. representatives: 53

More California coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for California
 CaliforniaU.S.
Total population:38,993,940316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):155,7793,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:61.8%73.6%
Black/African American:5.9%12.6%
Asian:13.7%5.1%
Native American:0.7%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.4%0.2%
Two or more:4.5%3%
Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:81.8%86.7%
College graduation rate:31.4%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$61,818$53,889
Persons below poverty level:18.2%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

There are no Pivot Counties in California. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won California with 61.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 31.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, California voted Republican 53.33 percent of the time and Democratic 43.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, California voted Democratic all five times. In 2016, California had 55 electoral votes, which was the most of any state. The 55 electoral votes were 10.2 percent of all 538 available electoral votes and were 20.4 percent of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Assembly districts in California. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[11][12]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 58 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 38.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 66 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 40.3 points. Clinton won 11 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 22 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 12.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 14 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 13 points.


See also

San Francisco, California California Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes