NewsSan Francisco Public PressNovember 4, 2026San Francisco County
San Francisco Progressives Face Mixed Results Amid National Democratic Wins
Photo: San Francisco Public Press
San Francisco Democrats celebrated national congressional victories while local progressives faced uncertain or discouraging returns on ballot measures and supervisor races. Mayor Daniel Lurie claimed a mandate for his government overhaul and affordability agenda as preliminary election results showed strong leads for his backed measures and allies. Meanwhile, competing campaigns and propositions on housing, banking, and transit reflected deep local divisions over living costs and political power.
Read the full story at San Francisco Public PressWhy It Matters
Preliminary election returns show voters supporting major restructuring of city departments and transit funding while dividing on local housing trust funds and public banking proposals, shaping San Francisco's governance and affordability policies for the coming years.
Key Facts
- San Francisco Democrats celebrated party captures of both houses of Congress during Tuesday's election.
- Mayor Daniel Lurie claimed a mandate for his government overhaul and affordability agenda following preliminary election returns.
- The city counted 185,032 ballots in the fourth report released at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, with an estimated 164,000 ballots remaining to be counted Wednesday morning.
- Lurie's billionaire-backed 'Clean Up City Hall' campaign operated with a pooled committee of $13.8 million according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Proposition A, aimed at restructuring departments and commissions, garnered 70.64% support in preliminary results.
- Proposition C, which expands Housing Trust Fund contributions, achieved 79.85% support.
- Proposition I, which proposed dedicating transfer-tax revenue to affordable housing and tenant assistance, trailed with 45.03% yes votes.
- Proposition B, laying groundwork for a public bank, stood closely contested at 49.82% yes, trailing by just 630 votes.
- Proposition H, a parcel tax for Muni operations, received 72.44% support, while a regional transit sales tax reached 77.63% in San Francisco.
- Proposition G, which proposed reopening the Upper Great Highway to weekday traffic, faced 62.79% opposition.
- Proposition J, ending a transfer-tax exemption for large foreclosed properties, led with 79.06% support.
- Statewide Proposition 40 (the one-time billionaire tax) trailed with 44.4% support statewide, but San Francisco voters supported it with 52.43%.
- Statewide Proposition 42 (prohibiting new state personal-property taxes) led statewide at 54.3%, but San Francisco opposed it with 58.51%.
Who's Mentioned
PersonRafael Mandelman“Outgoing supervisor.”OrganizationBallotpedia“Organization compiling campaign data.”PersonDonald Trump“President whose administration drew a sharp rebuke from congressional election r”PersonScott Wiener“State Senator leading in the congressional contest against Connie Chan.”PersonDaniel Lurie“Mayor of San Francisco claiming a mandate for his government overhaul.”PersonAlan Wong“Mayor Lurie's appointee leading in supervisor contests.”PersonAlbert Chow“Trailing District 4 supervisor candidate.”PersonLara Kiswani“Executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.”PersonCami Dominguez“Public Press reporter covering Latinos in San Francisco.”OrganizationArab Resource and Organizing Center“Community organization.”OrganizationSan Francisco Public Press“Local news publication.”PersonTheo Ellington“Lurie-endorsed supervisor candidate.”PersonMatt Dorsey“Incumbent supervisor holding a strong lead.”PersonMichael Stoll“Senior editor and co-founder of the San Francisco Public Press.”PersonZhe Wu“Reporter at the Public Press.”PersonRosie Bultman“Multimedia journalist based in the East Bay Area.”OrganizationFederal Elections Commission“Agency providing campaign finance data.”PersonStephen Sherrill“Mayor Lurie's appointee leading in supervisor contests.”OrganizationMission Local“Local news outlet.”PersonGary McCoy“Candidate leading in District 8.”OrganizationSan Francisco Chronicle“Newspaper that reported campaign finances and declared ballot measures passed.”PersonConnie Chan“Congressional candidate hosting an election-night watch party.”locationSan Francisco“City where elections and local political developments took place.”OrganizationKALW“Radio station.”