The San Francisco mayoral debate took an unexpected turn when Mayor London Breed challenged her rival, Mark Farrell, to name three drag queens and three LGBTQ advisers to his campaign. Breed pointed out that Farrell struggled to name LGBTQ advisers in the past and gave him a chance to redeem himself by providing the names.
In response, Farrell, also a Democrat, mentioned that two members of his staff are part of the queer community but did not disclose their identities. He expressed pride in the support he has from the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco and highlighted his history of supporting the LGBT community through legislative actions during his time on the Board of Supervisors.
Another Democratic mayoral candidate, Daniel Lurie, asked Breed to name three nonprofits she had closed due to poor performance. While Breed acknowledged that she could provide examples, she chose not to do so during the debate.
Breed, who is facing numerous challengers in her re-election bid, was first elected in 2018. A WalletHub report ranked San Francisco as the “worst run” city in the U.S., with the city placing second to last in 2022. Despite criticism of her performance, Breed’s office spokesperson dismissed the report, stating that it compared San Francisco’s budget with other cities without considering the full context.
A poll conducted by the San Francisco Chronicle in February revealed that 80% of likely Asian voters were unsatisfied with Breed’s performance. In comparison, each of her two challengers received 17% support, while Breed’s approval rating stood at 10%.
Overall, the mayoral debate in San Francisco highlighted the challenges and criticisms faced by Mayor London Breed as she seeks re-election. The focus on LGBTQ representation, city performance rankings, and voter satisfaction underscores the complexities of governing a diverse and dynamic city like San Francisco.