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Mayoral election in San Francisco, California (2024)
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← 2019
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| 2024 San Francisco elections |
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| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: June 11, 2024 |
| General election: November 5, 2024 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor |
| Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections) |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2024 |
Daniel Lurie defeated twelve other candidates in the general election for mayor of San Francisco, California, on Nov. 5, 2024. Click here for detailed results.
Four candidates led in polling and media attention before the election: Incumbent Mayor London Breed, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie, and Aaron Peskin. Though San Francisco holds nonpartisan elections, all four of the leading candidates were registered Democrats.[1]
ABC7 News conducted interviews with the four leading candidates. According to ABC7 News Monica Madden, "All four candidates - Mayor London Breed, Aaron Peskin, Mark Farrell and Daniel Lurie - were in agreement about the severity of the homelessness problem in San Francisco, but they all differed in approaches to solutions."[2] Breed said homelessness in San Francisco reached a ten-year low during her mayorship and said the city had the authority to enforce laws that restrict lying and camping in public spaces after the Supreme Court's decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. Farrell said he would prioritize sustainable growth and marketing the city to businesses and tourists. Lurie said his experience working for Tipping Point, a nonprofit focused on antipoverty efforts, made him the most qualified to lead efforts to increase housing. Peskin said he would reform system management practices so various city departments work together to address homelessness, work with neighboring cities to restore underutilized state facilities for mental health treatment centers, and expand conservatorship laws.[3][4]
Breed served as the mayor of San Francisco since 2020. Breed received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco.[5] Before serving in public office, Breed worked as the executive director of the African American Art and Culture Complex. Breed served as the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commissioner and as a member and president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.[6] Breed said housing affordability was her top priority. Breed said, “Our work is removing roadblocks and making it easier to build housing that’s affordable, so that everyone who wants to call San Francisco home can live here.”[7] Breed also listed public safety, reducing drug abuse, improving street conditions, reducing homelessness, and improving public transportation as her priorities.[8]
Farrell served as the interim mayor of San Francisco in 2018. Farrell received a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University, a master’s degree from University College Dublin, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Before serving in public office, Farrell worked as a corporate and securities attorney.[9] Farrell served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2011-2018. Farrell said, "As mayor, I’ll fully fund public safety, make a change of leadership at the top of our police department, clear all our tent encampments, create a centralized intake center, and connect people to shelter and services."[10]
Lurie worked as an associate at Robin Hood, chair of the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, and founded and worked as the CEO of Tipping Point Community.[11] On his campaign website, Lurie listed public safety, improving mental health and drug abuse, reducing corruption, and providing more affordable housing as his priorities.[12] "With accountability and rooting out corruption, we can tackle our housing and drug crisis, clear the tent encampments, and bring our businesses back."[13]
Peskin was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Peskin received a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He founded the nonprofit Great Basin Land and Water, worked for the land conservation group Trust for Public Land, served as chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, and was the president of the historic preservation and affordable housing group Telegraph Hill Dwellers.[14] On his campaign website, Peskin said he would reduce homelessness by building and supporting more affordable housing developments, force departments to improve their coordination, and identify and restore unused state facilities to use for mental health and drug abuse treatment locations.[15]
Henry Flynn, Keith Freedman, Dylan Hirsch-Shell, Nelson Mei, Paul Ybarra Robertson, and Ahsha Safai also ran in the election.
San Francisco has term limits. The incumbent mayor can run for two consecutive four-year terms and may run again after a four-year break following his or her second consecutive term.
San Francisco uses ranked-choice voting, which asks voters to rank candidates by preference on their ballots. The candidate who wins a majority of first-preference votes is declared the winner. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated. Ballots that ranked a failed candidate as their first, or highest choice, depending on the round, are then reevaluated and counted as first-preference ballots for the next-highest-ranked candidate in that round. A new tally is conducted to determine whether any candidate has won a majority of ballots. The process is repeated until a candidate wins an outright majority.
Candidates and election results
Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.
General election
General election for Mayor of San Francisco
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Daniel Lurie in round 14 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
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Total votes: 390,184 |
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Voting information
What was the voter registration deadline?
- In-person: Oct. 21, 2024
- By mail: Oct. 21, 2024
- Online: Oct. 21, 2024
There was no absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline since every voter received a mail-in ballot by default.
What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?
- In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
- By mail: Must be postmarked by Nov. 5, 2024
Was early voting available to all voters? Yes
What were the early voting start and end dates? Varies by county
Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required? No
When were polls open on Election Day? 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Candidate comparison
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Incumbent: Yes
Political Office:
- Mayor of San Francisco (Assumed office: 2018)
- San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2011-2018)
Biography: Breed received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. Breed worked as the executive director of the African American Art and Culture Complex and served as the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commissioner.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "San Francisco’s best days are ahead of us—if we have the courage to bring real change to City Hall. I’m running for Mayor because, during London Breed’s six years in office, San Francisco has become a city in decline. We’re facing an unprecedented police staffing crisis, a hollowing-out of our downtown, a growing homeless population, rampant open-air drug markets, mushrooming corruption scandals, and sky-high housing prices. We can’t afford four more years of this administration’s failed leadership, and I’m ready to hit the ground running on Day One to finally deliver the change and results San Franciscans deserve. I was born and raised in San Francisco, and I’m raising my three kids here with my wife, Liz, because this was the best place in the world to grow up, and I know it can be again. We just need new leadership to get the job done. I served as Interim Mayor in the wake of Ed Lee’s tragic death, as a member of the Board of Supervisors for seven years before that, and I began my career as a lawyer, banker, and small business owner. I’m the only candidate for Mayor with meaningful experience inside and outside City Hall, as well as a proven track record of policy wins for San Francisco’s working families. To learn more about my plans and my record, visit https://www.markfarrell.com/."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Keith received his Masters Degree in Computer Science with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence from Colorado State University. His Masters Thesis was about an Artificial Intelligence Planning system to optimize detection of drug traffickers funded by the US Counter Drug Initiative. Twenty-eight years ago, Keith moved to San Francisco to pursue his career and contribute to the Bay Area’s unique technology community. Prior to the Pandemic, he taught Computer Science at City College of San Francisco and The University of California Berkeley Extension. He is a proud member of AFT local 2121. Keith has been a renter in San Francisco for 28 years and loves to share his passion for San Francisco with visitors from around the world. Keith comes from a family of Educators and the educated. His siblings are doctors, lawyers and leaders in their fields. Keith taught Computer Programming at City College of San Francisco. He also taught data center monitoring classes in California, Oregon and London. His mother was a teacher before she changed careers and earned her masters degree in Legal Administration while working full-time and raising six children. After obtaining her doctorate in Education, his sister-in-law created a new high school in Denver, Colorado and then developed the curriculum for a high school in Shanghai. His grandmother was a kindergarten teacher her whole life."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I'm Dylan Hirsch-Shell, and I'm running for Mayor of San Francisco because I believe our city deserves a leader who will tackle our toughest challenges with bold solutions, not empty promises. I have two undergraduate degrees from MIT, a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA, and I spent over 12 years as a software engineer at Tesla, where I led global teams and managed multi-billion dollar projects. This experience has equipped me with the analytical skills and leadership experience needed to address the complex issues facing our city. I have deep roots in San Francisco, with family history in the city dating back to 1870. I'm passionate about social justice, environmental sustainability, and creating a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I believe in the power of innovation, collaboration, and a compassionate approach to governance."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I’m running for Mayor because San Francisco needs accountable leadership and new ideas to solve our biggest problems. As a lifelong San Franciscan, my wife and I are proud to raise our kids here but are deeply concerned about the direction we’re heading. I founded and served as CEO of one of the largest and most innovative poverty fighting organizations because the system was failing those in need. I challenged the system to bring accountability and show how to get big things done in San Francisco. I’ve built affordable housing on-time and under-budget with good-paying union labor, helped house nearly 40,000 people and prevent many more from becoming homeless, and I’ve built dignified shelter beds at a fraction of the time and cost that it takes City Hall. I have a record of holding organizations accountable to spend resources effectively and achieve results on early childhood health, keeping people in their homes, living wage jobs, and helping students go to college. I am the only candidate that will shake up an ineffective and corrupt system that blocks progress on public safety, the drug crisis, homelessness, housing and economic recovery. Together, we can tackle our city’s biggest challenges and bring San Francisco back better than ever."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I'm a long-time resident of San Francisco with a robust background in technology, and I'm running for mayor in 2024. I'm committed to tackling the city's most pressing challenges, with a vision of creating a San Francisco where everyone loves to live. My aspiration is to make San Francisco the safest city in the world."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- San Francisco Board of Supervisors (Assumed office: 2017)
Biography: Safai received a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Safai worked as the political director for Service Employees International Union Local 87, principal at Kitchen Cabinet Public Affairs, community programs liaison for the San Francisco Department of Public works, and project manager for the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Shahram grew up in a government employed household. His mom retires next year after serving as a USPS mail carrier for over 20 years. His dad retired during the pandemic after working at the famous maximum security prison in Folsom. Both parents instilled the importance of helping the community and not judging anyone by their past. Now, the baton has passed down to Shahram who has worked for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for 10 years and San Francisco's Mayor's Office of Housing for 8 years. His work consists of designing infrastructure for sustainable modes of transportation and helping first time homebuyers navigate the below market rate program. Shahram attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and earned three degrees over the course of six years. He possesses a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degree in civil engineering, focusing on urban planning, environmental studies, and transportation. The third is a Master of Business Administration degree. In addition, Shahram possesses a California Real Estate Agent license. The MBA and licenses have allowed Shahram to start his own real estate business. Shahram's diverse background aligns perfectly with the qualities a mayor should possess. Having worked closely with the everyday problems facing our city, Shahram has developed solutions to address them"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "MAGA Republican for Trump! Pro-life Mother to end innocent blood! Family Social Worker to end social problems! New-born Christian for God's Kingdom!"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of San Francisco in 2024.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
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.
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Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Our sidewalks belong to everyone. London Breed has increased homelessness and social services spending by $2.5 billion in six years, but San Francisco has nothing except higher taxes to show for it. When I served as Interim Mayor, I cleared all large tent encampments in six months, and I’ll do it again by reuniting unhoused individuals and their families, aggressively connecting those suffering on our streets to mental health services, expanding compelled treatment, and implementing a zero-tolerance policy for dangerous street behavior.
We can bring Downtown back. On London Breed’s watch, San Francisco has had the worst post-pandemic economic recovery of any major American city, and our commercial vacancy crisis threatens funding for the key services our residents rely on. I’ll get serious about Downtown’s recovery by restoring public safety, providing tax credits for small businesses and larger companies that bring employees back to the office, revitalizing public spaces like Embarcadero Plaza and Union Square, providing new incentives for office-to-housing conversions, and more.
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Our city deserves a police force that embodies the core values of our community: equity, equality, and respect for all individuals. As we strive for meaningful reforms, it’s crucial to recognize the nuanced history of policing and commit to prioritizing community-oriented strategies. This includes fostering trust and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, implementing effective training programs that emphasize de-escalation and cultural sensitivity, and ensuring accountability and transparency in all aspects of policing. By working together with residents, activists, and policymakers, we can create a safer and more just San Francisco where every person feels protected and respected.
Tourism is a cornerstone of our city’s prosperity, and my administration will capitalize on this by implementing strategic initiatives to position San Francisco as a top global destination. This involves prioritizing investments in infrastructure and amenities for an enhanced visitor experience, partnering with local businesses on targeted marketing campaigns, advocating for sustainable tourism practices, empowering local entrepreneurs, and cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment. By embracing innovation, sustainability, and community collaboration, we will uphold San Francisco’s reputation as a welcoming hub of hospitality and opportunity for future generations.
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
I believe in a San Francisco that works for everyone. My policies, such as Universal Basic Income and Universal Social Housing, will create a more equitable and just city.
I'm committed to building a more sustainable future for San Francisco. I'll prioritize clean energy, efficient transportation, and responsible environmental stewardship.
Daniel Lurie (Nonpartisan)
Drug and Mental Health Crisis: When I’m mayor, no one will be allowed to—nor will they need to—sleep on our streets. To address the mental health and drug crisis on our streets I will shift to a co-responder model and embed mental health professionals with police units. Not every call requires a response from someone with a badge and a gun. This will benefit law enforcement morale and improve recruitment, as well as shift existing police resources back to foot patrol and neighborhood beats. Coupled with creating 24/7 Crisis Centers where people experiencing crisis can be brought and navigated to services and creating more treatment and shelter beds through my “Home Run” plan, we’ll reverse the tragic situation on our streets.
Government Reform: Anti-corruption and accountability measures need to be a priority of the next mayor. Through my City Hall Accountability Plan, I will restructure the bureaucracy by centralizing contract management, end corrupt pay-to-play permitting, and streamline construction management.
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
My top priority is the safety of every resident. To make San Francisco the safest city in the world, I'll focus on two key strategies. First, I'll reform policies to ensure that every criminal is prosecuted and faces serious consequences for their actions. Second, I'll implement cutting-edge technologies to empower the SFPD to catch every individual who commits a crime, sending a clear message that in San Francisco, criminals will be 100% held accountable and punished for their crimes.
Homelessness:
I am committed to addressing the homelessness crisis with a focus on both compassion and effectiveness. To significantly reduce homelessness in San Francisco, I plan to implement comprehensive solutions that provide individuals with the support they need to transition from the streets to stable housing and meaningful employment. By enhancing collaboration between city agencies and community organizations, I aim to ensure that resources are effectively used to address the root causes of homelessness, ultimately leading to a significant and lasting reduction in homelessness across San Francisco.
City Revitalization:
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
San Antonio and Austin, Texas, have built such facilities within their jurisdictions, and both report over an 80% success rate in helping the homeless population reintegrate into society. In contrast, San Francisco currently has a 27% success rate, as there is no facility in California that offers housing, food, medical care, and job training all in one place like the ones in Texas.
Shahram is the only mayoral candidate actively promoting homeownership for San Francisco residents. The city currently has an affordable housing program for first-time buyers, offering up to $500,000 for a down payment if you earn less than $200,000 annually and live or work in San Francisco.
Shahram used this program eight years ago to buy his home for $245,000. His mortgage and HOA fees combined are still less than market rate rents.
As a licensed real estate agent, he's spent the last eight years helping others take advantage of this program, recognizing that few agents in the city are familiar with it.
Shahram plans to expose the entire San Francisco government to the world because he has nothing to hide. He is promoting a documentary series where every elected and appointed official will be on camera during his term as mayor. This will force people to choose between two options:
Quit if they have something illegal to hide. Do the right thing to keep their job and/or get reelected.
Each episode will focus on a different topic, such as homelessness, accounting audits, building permits, etc., along with follow-up episodes on actions taken to improve the system. Shahram believes this approach will help clear up corruption in San Francisco in record time.
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
End illegal drug & criminal activities! Bring businesses back to create jobs to train people to be independent! Every deserves a home1 Affordable for each family!
My team will end homeless scam to save homeless and drug abusers from cabal system, aka, agenda 2030! End transgenderism in public education system. Train children to honor God and their parents / caregivers.
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
- Economic Justice: Implementing a Universal Basic Income to ensure a basic standard of living for everyone
- Affordable Housing: Building Universal Social Housing to provide truly affordable homes for all
- Homelessness: Ending chronic homelessness through the systematic Built for Zero method
- Drug Policy: Addressing the opioid crisis with Switzerland's Four Pillars strategy, balancing harm reduction, treatment, prevention, and law enforcement
- Climate Action: Transitioning to 100% renewable energy and building a more sustainable city
Daniel Lurie (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
It seems that we have grown to accept that our politicians will tell us one thing and do another. We complain about this lack of integrity, yet we continue to elect them.
As a new candidate whose owned a business in The City and consulted in the private sector for many years, this process has confirmed much of my suspicions. running a campaign is expensive. Getting voters attention requires either knowing rich people or rich corporations. The catch-22 is that you can't get attention without proving to the wealthy or the media that you can generate revenue for them.
I hope to be able to change this, although I realize it's swimming against the tide, if I'm able to succeed, I'll be in a position where I don't owe anything to anyone other than the People of San Francisco.
When wealthy people and companies can fund candidates through PAC's and the media only pays attention to those who will already draw eyes to their papers/stations, we can only expect a better outcome if we, the voters, ignore the pay for play candidates and choose our own leader.
I hope to be that leader For A Better San Francisco.
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Daniel Lurie (Nonpartisan)
City Hall insiders have spent years building and exploiting a broken system. Our city deserves better and replacing one insider with another is not going to change things for the better.
Far too often, we’ve seen elected officials use loopholes, accept questionable donations, or engage in conflicts of interest, which only deepens the mistrust between residents and City Hall. As mayor, I will close the slush fund loophole, require greater transparency in campaign finance, and ensure that those who violate ethics rules face serious consequences. It’s not enough to talk about values—we need to enforce them.
By fully funding the San Francisco Ethics Commission and giving it the resources to audit, investigate, and hold wrongdoers accountable, we can begin to rebuild that trust. Ethical leadership isn’t just about following the rules—it’s about leading by example, ensuring the public feels confident that their government is working for them, not for insider interests.
In my administration, transparency and ethics will be a priority, and I will lead the charge to clean up City Hall.
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
The media plays a significant role in politics, but they are often not transparent in their coverage. Shahram attended a San Francisco Chronicle event with 200 people in attendance. The political writers informed the audience that they could rank up to 10 candidates in the upcoming San Francisco mayoral election, but only discussed five.
When the two SF Chronicle political writers were asked why it costs $50,000 for a candidate to be mentioned in their poll and have articles written about them, they avoided answering, and Shahram could hear gasps from the audience. Shahram wasn’t aware of this process himself until he began his political journey.
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
- Analytical and Data-Driven Approach: My training in computational neuroscience and my years of experience at Tesla have instilled in me a rigorous, data-driven approach to problem-solving. I'm not afraid to dig into the details, identify root causes, and make decisions based on evidence, not ideology.
- Collaborative Leadership Style: I believe in the power of bringing people together to find solutions. I'm a strong communicator and consensus-builder, and I'm committed to working collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors, community organizations, businesses, and residents to achieve our shared goals.
- Focus on Innovation and Results: I'm constantly looking for ways to improve systems and achieve better outcomes. I'm not afraid to challenge the status quo, experiment with new ideas, and hold myself and others accountable for results.
- Unwavering Integrity and Commitment to Public Service: I'm running for Mayor because I genuinely care about the future of San Francisco and the well-being of all its residents. I believe in ethical and transparent governance, and I will always put the needs of the people first.
Daniel Lurie (Nonpartisan)
Tipping Point spearheaded the construction of a first-of-its-kind affordable housing building on Bryant Street, completing the project on time and under budget while employing good-paying union labor. In response to the devastating North Bay Fires, I mobilized efforts to collect donations and distribute funds to community-based organizations, including organizing a sold-out relief concert at AT&T Park that raised over $17 million for victims.
As a lifelong Democrat and San Franciscan, I am running for mayor to turn around the city I love. I have dedicated my career to improving the lives of people throughout San Francisco. Tipping Point has raised more than $500 million, delivering measurable results in early childhood education, employment, housing, and education. My accountable leadership has facilitated innovative projects that helped house 40,000 people and prevent countless others from falling into homelessness.
Inspired by my parents' commitment to service, my wife Becca and I are dedicated to raising our children in a San Francisco we can all be proud of.
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Part of the job description is as follows: "The mayor has the responsibility to enforce all city laws, administer and coordinate city departments and intergovernmental activities, set forth policies and agendas to the Board of Supervisors, and prepare and submit the city budget at the end of each fiscal year."
However, our current Mayor doesn't do most of the duties on the list. She relies on the City Administrator to handle the city agencies and departments, most of which are poorly run. She allows the BoS to set the agenda for The City and is in constant conflict with them.
What's missing from that job description is just as important as what is in the job description.
The Mayor should be a marketing representative of The City to people from around the world. This job is more important than just bringing Pandas to our Zoo. Their job is to compat inaccurate negative press and to highlight accurate positive press.
To draw businesses and tourists back to The City through action, not just platitudes.
As a business owner who has had to get creative to survive a pandemic and grow a business in a down economy, these are skills I have developed.
I look forward to putting them to work on behalf of The City of San Francisco. in order to restore jobs, restore business interest in The City and to house the unhoused.
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Daniel Lurie (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
It's an epic story set in California's Salinas Valley, where the landscape itself plays a powerful role, shaping the lives of its characters. The book explores themes of good and evil, family, love, and the challenges of being human, all against the backdrop of California's history.
What really draws me to "East of Eden" is its portrayal of the California dream. Many of the characters are immigrants or migrants, searching for a new life and chasing opportunities. Their stories resonate deeply with me, especially with my own family's history in California. My ancestors arrived in San Francisco in the late 1800s, hoping for a fresh start and working hard to build a future for their families. Reading "East of Eden" reminds me of their courage and determination.
I'm also drawn to the character of Lee, the Chinese-American servant to the Trask family. Lee is a wise and philosophical figure who offers a unique perspective on the story. He challenges traditional ways of thinking and emphasizes the power of individual choice. His character reminds me how important it is to listen to diverse voices and appreciate the complexities of human experience.
Steinbeck's writing is just beautiful. The book has stuck with me long after I finished it, and its themes still resonate with me today. Even now, as we face issues like inequality, environmental challenges, and the search for meaning in our lives, "East of Eden" feels relevant and insightful. It's a powerful reminder that the choices we make shape the future of our communities and our state.
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulFK2tv4GWQ)
God is a Way Maker Below is partial of the lyric, a beautiful song.
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
Yeah You're the way maker
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
Yeah sing it again You are, yeah
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
Oh it's who You are, Jesus, yeah
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
Sing that is who You are
Oh, that is who You are
And that is who You are
Oh, and that is who You are
That is who You are
Lord Jesus, that is who You are
That is who You are (oh, He lifts you up)
That is who You are
That is who You are
My Jesus, yeah
Miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
Yes it is yeah, it's who You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness (hey)
My God, that is who You are
Let's sing this together
Even when I don't see it, come on, even when
Even when I don't see it, You're working
Even when I don't feel it, You're working
You never stop, You never stop working
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Our mayor doesn't take criticism well and there's a lot to criticize about the way The City operates.
The new Mayor will have to spend some early days making sure the city administrator is on the right track and that all the city agencies know what is expected from them.
Once done, a close eye will have to be kept on the city administrator. In the end, the people of San Francisco don't care how the work gets done, just that it does get done and this expectation correctly falls on the Mayor.
San Francisco needs a Mayor who truly believes, "the buck stops here."
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Blame is laid for various Democratic factions, but those responsible are the Mayor and the president of the board of supervisors--both of which are running for Mayor and neither seem interested in solving this problem.
We won't always agree, but resolving differences is best done from a place of commonality instead of focusing only on where we disagreee.
This is the approach I take. I work from a place of agreement and head toward a solution that is a win-win. This is how businesses succeed and this is how I will make For A Better San Francisco
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
While the Mayor is responsible for the day-to-day administration of city government, the Board plays a crucial role in setting policy, approving budgets, and providing oversight. Effective governance requires open communication, a willingness to compromise, and a recognition that we are all working towards the same goal: a thriving and equitable San Francisco.
I am committed to building strong relationships with the Board of Supervisors, engaging in respectful dialogue, and finding common ground to address the challenges facing our city. I believe that by working together, we can achieve far more than we can by working in isolation.
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
- The Housing Affordability Crisis: The high cost of housing is driving out long-time residents and making it difficult for working families to make ends meet.
- The Homelessness Crisis: The number of individuals experiencing homelessness continues to rise, straining our resources and creating a public health crisis.
- The Opioid Crisis: The fentanyl epidemic is devastating our communities, leading to overdoses, crime, and a sense of despair.
- Public Safety Concerns: Residents and businesses are increasingly concerned about crime and safety, particularly in certain neighborhoods.
- Climate Change: The impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, extreme weather events, and air pollution, are already being felt in San Francisco.
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
A States responsibility is in allocating funds to meet statewide goals, set guidelines where various cities may disagree on what's right--this is done in order to provide some cohesion so that residents traveling around the state have the same expectations and rules no matter where they are.
State and City officials should be in communication and, ideally, see share an interest in serving the public good.
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
In this role, we should get attention and support from the Federal Government for pushing the envelope and taking risks in proving concepts.
The right Mayor with the right ideas can get this done.
This is what I will do for the people of San Francisco.
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
The second day the politician goes to heaven which has a chill vibe with people meditating. The politician isn't as excited being in heaving and chooses to go to hell.
Upon arrival in hell the politician experience screaming and torture. The politician asks the devil what happened to the rock concert. The devil responds back to the politician saying they were campaigning two days ago.
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
Law enforcement officers WANT to do their job. they don't like crime and they get into this career to fight crime. When they're not allowed to do that they loose job satisfaction making it difficult to hire and retain good officers.
There needs to be a balance, however, and we need to insure
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Cornel West SF Green Party (#2 ranked choice) Gisèle Huff, President and Founder of the Gerald Huff Fund for Humanity Home Sharers Democratic Club (#5 ranked choice)
Central City Democrats (#5 ranked choice)
Daniel Lurie (Nonpartisan)
Civic & Public Safety Leaders:
Former SF Mayor and Police Chief Frank Jordan
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, the First Surgeon General of CA
Vicki Hennesy, Former Sheriff of SF
Paul Yep, Commander, SFPD (Ret.)
Robert Yick, Captain, SFPD (Ret.)
Pat Gallagher, Past SF Travel Board Chair
Mabel Teng, Former Assessor-Recorder & Former SF Board of Supervisors
Organizations:
GrowSF
LiUNA! Local 261
UFCW 648
Restaurants & Small Businesses:
Amanda Michael, Owner, Jane The Bakery
Michael & Lindsay Tusk, Owner, Quince and Cotogna
Gilbert Pilgrim, Owner, Zuni Café
Mousa Shamieh, Owner, UpForDayz Coffee
Tate Chan, Owner, The Wok Shop
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Mark Farrell (Nonpartisan)
Keith Freedman (Nonpartisan)
I will endeavor to hold all city agencies accountable for their budgets and all recipients of major project funding accountable for their price quotes and time estimates. Just as I am held accountable in my business and hold my business vendors accountable, in this regard, The City should be run as a business.
We can demonstrate to the rest of the world how we can apply business approaches to managing a city while also maintaining our responsibility as a government to serve it's people.
Dylan Hirsch-Shell (Nonpartisan)
Daniel Lurie (Nonpartisan)
Our government has been hijacked to serve political agendas rather than the city’s best interests. The result is many years of record budgets wasted because of corruption and political greed. If we’re going to turn our City around — and I promise you we will — we can’t let creative solutions continue to die slow bureaucratic deaths.
My City Hall Accountability Plan will address the root cause of our problems, which is the outdated, ineffective, and corrupt City Hall system. In order to fix City Hall, I am going to restructure it. That will allow us to finally deliver results on clean and safe streets, shelter beds instead of encampments, ending corruption, supporting small businesses, and more.
This plan to fix the foundation of our government will make our city safe and clean, and stomp out corruption.
There are three pillars:
(1) Centralize contract management and oversight. A specialized unit of experts will oversee the $5 billion of taxpayer money that goes out the door each year. This will take contracting out of departments so they stop functioning as independent and unaccountable fiefdoms. (2) Reform the broken permitting process and the Department of Building Inspection. This will bring transparency and end the need to hire “permit expediters”, the corrupt pay-to-play process that exists in SF. (3) Streamline construction management. With centralized planning and coordination we will avoid debacles like the Nightmare on Taraval Street and the $1.7 million toilet.
City Hall insiders have been telling us we can’t change our systems for so long. I’m not buying it. Together we will make City Hall accountable to the people of San Francisco.
Nelson Mei (Nonpartisan)
Shahram Shariati (Nonpartisan)
Ellen Lee Zhou (Nonpartisan)
Campaign ads
London Breed
| September 18, 2024 |
| September 18, 2024 |
View more ads here:
Mark Farrell
| February 13, 2024 |
View more ads here:
Daniel Lurie
| September 22, 2024 |
| August 28, 2024 |
| August 9, 2024 |
View more ads here:
Aaron Peskin
Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Aaron Peskin while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.
Election competitiveness
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Polls are conducted with a variety of methodologies and have margins of error or credibility intervals.[16] The Pew Research Center wrote, "A margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level means that if we fielded the same survey 100 times, we would expect the result to be within 3 percentage points of the true population value 95 of those times."[17] For tips on reading polls from FiveThirtyEight, click here. For tips from Pew, click here.
Below we provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. Click here to read about FiveThirtyEight's criteria for including polls in its aggregation. We only report polls for which we can find a margin of error or credibility interval.
RCV simulation polls
The following polls asked respondents to rank their choices. Pollsters then ran ranked-choice voting simulations based on responses.
| Probolsky Research poll (July 30-August 7,2024) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | 4th round | 5th round | 6th round | 7th round | ||||||
| Breed | 27.8 | 28.3 | 29.2 | 30.0 | 30.1 | 36.0 | 50.8 | ||||||
| Farrell | 23.6 | 24.0 | 24.1 | 25.3 | 25.8 | 36.0 | 49.2 | ||||||
| Peskin | 21.6 | 21.7 | 22.2 | 22.2 | 23.4 | 28.0 | |||||||
| Lurie | 19.3 | 19.4 | 19.8 | 19.8 | 20.7 | ||||||||
| Safai | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | |||||||||
| • Poll link • Respondents: 300 RV[18] • MOE: +/- 5.8 • San Francisco Deputy Sheriff’s Association Political Action Committee[19] | |||||||||||||
| Grow SF/FM3 poll (July 9-July 18, 2024) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | 4th round | |||||||||
| Breed | 30 | 33 | 41 | 51 | |||||||||
| Farrell | 26 | 27 | 32 | 49 | |||||||||
| Lurie | 20 | 21 | 26 | ||||||||||
| Peskin | 16 | 19 | |||||||||||
| Safai | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Undecided | |||||||||||||
| • FM3 poll link • Respondents: 1,066 RV[20] • MOE: +/- 3.1 • Grow SF[21] | |||||||||||||
Endorsements
Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.
Election spending
Campaign finance
Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the City and County of San Francisco Ethics Commission. Click here to access those reports.
Mayoral partisanship
Thirty-four of the 100 largest cities held mayoral elections in 2024. Once mayors elected in 2024, assumed office Democrats held 65 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans 25, Libertarians held one, independents held two, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Three mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.
The following top 100 cities saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2024:[22]
- Anchorage, Alaska: Nonpartisan Suzanne LaFrance defeated incumbent Republican David Bronson in the runoff election on May 14. LaFrance assumed office on July 1.
- Tulsa, Oklahoma: Democrat Monroe Nichols was elected to succeed Republican G. T. Bynum on November 5. Nichols assumed office on December 1.
- Las Vegas, Nevada: Democrat Shelley Berkley was elected to succeed nonpartisan Carolyn Goodman on November 5. Berkley assumed office on December 4.
- Scottsdale, Arizona: Republican Lisa Borowsky defeated incumbent Independent David Ortega on November 5. Borowsky assumed office on January 14, 2025.
- Stockton, California: Democrat Christina Fugazi was elected to succeed Republican Kevin Lincoln II on November 5. Fugazi assumed office on January 1, 2025.
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Republican Sid Edwards defeated incumbent Democrat Sharon Weston Broome on December 7. Edwards assumed office on January 1, 2025.
- San Antonio, Texas: On September 14, 2024, The San Antonio Express-News reported that mayor Ron Nirenberg, who had previously called himself an independent, had announced that he was a Democrat.[23]
What was at stake?
Report a story for this election
Ballotpedia researches issues in local elections across the United States, but information availability is a challenge for us in many areas. Please contact us about the issues that impact your local election. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion.
Candidate survey
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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 2020, its population was 873,965.
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.[24]
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for San Francisco, California | ||
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | California | |
| Population | 873,965 | 39,538,223 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 46 | 155,857 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 44.9% | 56.1% |
| Black/African American | 5.1% | 5.7% |
| Asian | 34.3% | 14.8% |
| Native American | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Other (single race) | N/A | 14.3% |
| Multiple | 7.2% | 7.9% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 15.2% | 39.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 88.6% | 83.9% |
| College graduation rate | 58.8% | 34.7% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $119,136 | $78,672 |
| Persons below poverty level | 10.1% | 12.6% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020). | ||
| **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. | ||
==2024 battleground elections==
- See also: Battlegrounds
This was a battleground election. Other 2024 battleground elections included:
- Harris County District Attorney election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)
- Minnesota's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Republican primary)
- United States Senate election in Florida, 2024
See also
| San Francisco, California | California | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Axios San Francisco, "Voter guide: Meet SF's leading mayoral candidates," August 28, 2024
- ↑ ABC7 News, "Can San Francisco fix its public image? Mayoral hopefuls vow to restore the iconic city," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ ABC7 News, "Can San Francisco fix its public image? Mayoral hopefuls vow to restore the iconic city," October 4, 2024
- ↑ ABC7 News, "What top SF mayoral candidates say about city's homelessness problem," October 3, 2024
- ↑ San Francisco Board of Supervisors, "Former Supervisor London Breed - District 5," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ London Breed 2024 campaign website, "About," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ London Breed 2024 campaign website, "Medi," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ London Breed 2024 campaign website, "Issues," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ San Francisco Board of Supervisors, "Former Supervisor Mark Farrell - District 2," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Mark Farrell 2024 campaign website, "Home," accessed September 24
- ↑ Linkedin, "Daniel Lurie," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Daniel Lurie 2024 campaign website, "Priorities," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Youtube, "Daniel Lurie," September 22, 2024
- ↑ Aaron Peskin 2024 campaign website, "About," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Aaron Peskin 2024 campaign website, "Platform," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ For more information on the difference between margins of error and credibility intervals, see explanations from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and Ipsos.
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls," September 8, 2016
- ↑ RV=Registered Voters
LV=Likely Voters - ↑ The sponsor is the person or group that funded all or part of the poll.
- ↑ RV=Registered Voters
LV=Likely Voters - ↑ The sponsor is the person or group that funded all or part of the poll.
- ↑ As of January 7, 2025, the party affiliation of one mayor elected in 2024 was unknown. Ballotpedia contacted El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson's campaign in December to inquire about his party affiliation and had not yet received a reply. As incumbent Oscar Leeser was a Democrat, this decreased the net gain for Democrats from two to one.
- ↑ [San Antonio Express-News, "‘I’m a Democrat’: Mayor Ron Nirenberg campaigns for Kamala Harris, embraces party label," September 14, 2024]
- ↑ City of San Francisco, "Government," accessed September 3, 2014
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