In a closely watched race to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, state Sen. Scott Wiener leads Supervisor Connie Chan by six percentage points, according to a recent independent poll. The poll, conducted by USC, shows Wiener with 47% of the vote compared to Chan's 41%. However, when undecided voters were pushed to choose, Wiener's support increased to 51%, while Chan's rose to 44%. The race remains tight, with the potential for monolingual Chinese voters to sway the outcome in Chan's favor, as they have historically been underrepresented in polls.
Wiener's campaign received a significant boost with the endorsement of billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer, who praised Wiener's efforts on climate change and cost reduction for Californians. Meanwhile, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich endorsed Chan, highlighting her focus on taxing billionaires and supporting labor unions. Both endorsements underscore the candidates' differing appeals to progressive voters.
In other city news, a hit-and-run incident disrupted Muni Metro service over the weekend. A driver abandoned a vehicle inside the subway tunnel at the Embarcadero, causing damage to city property and halting train service. The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the incident as a hit-and-run, and service has since resumed.
San Francisco's political scene is also seeing a shift as former political aides and candidates transition into the tech industry. Connor Skelly, a former spokesman for Manny Yekutiel, has joined the AI company Anthropic. This move is part of a broader trend of local political figures entering the tech field, with companies like Anthropic and OpenAI seeking individuals with strong local and state connections.
On the sports front, the Golden State Valkyries tied their WNBA Finals series against the Atlanta Dream, with a 67-62 victory in Game 4. The Valkyries, known for their defensive prowess, made key lineup changes that paid off, setting the stage for an exciting Game 5 at Chase Center.
These developments come as Mayor Daniel Lurie garners support for his city charter reform measures, Propositions D, E, and F. Governor Gavin Newsom recently endorsed these measures, which aim to streamline bureaucracy and enhance mayoral control over city departments.