Endorsements for the June 2026 Primary Election
San Francisco Candidates
Alan Wong for District 4 Supervisor
Among the D4 candidates, Alan Wong stands out as the one we can rely on to bring a common-sense approach to the Board of Supervisors. Appointed last year by Mayor Lurie, Wong has voted in support of the Family Zoning plan, supports increased police staffing to boost public safety and reduce overtime costs, has worked to cut red tape for small businesses, and has already taken innovative steps like creating a process for San Franciscans to propose repeal or revision of unhelpful laws. He has done great work in his short time in office, and we look forward to seeing what he can do with a full term.
Phil Kim for Board of Education
Phil Kim has performed well as Board of Education president since his appointment in August 2024, most recently spearheading a 4-3 board vote to bring back eighth grade algebra. The city’s public schools face a number of major issues: a growing structural deficit, upcoming decisions about school consolidation, labor concerns, and more. San Francisco needs Phil Kim’s steady leadership at this challenging time.
Phoebe Maffei for Superior Court Judge
Phoebe Maffei has strong qualifications as an experienced prosecutor who, among other things, prosecuted the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband in his home. Not only does she have a strong track record, but she is notable for the number of co-workers and sitting judges who have endorsed her. We trust that Maffei will apply the law fairly and consistently on the bench.
San Francisco Ballot Measures
Yes on Proposition A: Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond
This bond would fund priorities related to earthquake preparedness, including seismic retrofitting of fire stations and a Muni yard. Among other important improvements, it would provide upgrades to water pressure infrastructure, supporting fire hydrants and water sources on the west side. For a city at serious risk from earthquakes, San Francisco’s west side is poorly prepared. Let’s fix that.
Yes on Proposition B: Lifetime Term Limits for Mayor and Board of Supervisors
San Francisco has term limits, but they have an odd loophole: an elected official can sit out a term, then run again. It largely defeats the purpose of term limits by allowing individuals to continue consolidating power and extending influence over city affairs long after their original terms are over. Reasonable people can disagree about whether term limits are good policy, but the loophole in current law doesn’t make sense and should be corrected.
Yes on Proposition C and No on Proposition D: Business Tax Measures
Less than two years ago, San Francisco voters approved Proposition M, which fixed longstanding problems in the city’s business tax system. Prop M wasn’t just a good idea—it was also the result of a negotiated compromise among various stakeholders, including labor and the Chamber of Commerce. Unfortunately, before Prop M has even had a chance to take effect, labor has now moved to throw the compromise out the window and change the tax structure again by proposing Proposition D, which they misleadingly call an “overpaid CEO tax.” Despite that spin, the proposed tax increase would not be imposed on overpaid CEOs. Instead it would increase taxes on businesses like Target, CVS, and Walgreens, which have already been shuttering stores across the city, leaving neighborhoods without key services. Proposition C was put on the ballot in response to Proposition D, and would make only minor changes like decreasing taxes on certain small businesses. If both measures pass, the one with the most votes will prevail and the other won’t be effective.
Let’s give 2024’s Proposition M time to work, and let’s send a message that voters won’t be fooled by misleading spin. We endorse Yes on C and No on D.
California State Candidates
Matt Haney for California Assembly (AD-17)
Matt Haney is running unopposed, but we can still recognize his contributions in the Assembly, especially around housing, homelessness, and public safety.
Catherine Stefani for California Assembly (AD-19)
We’re happy to echo our endorsement of Catherine Stefani two years ago. As a city supervisor Stefani focused on improving public safety, housing, small business conditions, and government oversight, and she has continued that important work in the Assembly.
Patrick Wolff for Insurance Commissioner
In a crowded field of candidates, only one has industry experience: Patrick Wolff. So it’s no surprise that he’s also the only candidate with a real plan to fix California’s insurance market. Our club has been fortunate to get to know Patrick well, originally as a member and later as part of our board. From those interactions we know that he’s not only the most qualified candidate (in fact, the only qualified candidate) but an exceptionally smart person with great judgment. Let’s hire him.
Scott Wiener for US Congress
A long-time staple of the San Francisco political scene, Wiener is known for being one of the most effective people in local government. In the state Senate, he has managed to pass bills once thought impossible, especially on the issue of housing. He has the best chance of any candidate to make a difference for San Francisco if we send him to Washington.
Early Endorsements for November Ballot Measures
Yes on the Regional Transit Measure
The Bay Area Rapid Transit system is recovering from a pandemic-related fall in rides, and has made changes necessary to make the system stronger than ever. The new fare gates have been a tremendous success, not only reducing fare evasion but—by keeping the fare-skipping people who trashed public areas out—dramatically improving the cleanliness of the stations and trains. Public safety personnel are now visibly making the rounds, responding quickly to problems and making riders feel safe again. Despite these improvements, rider growth has been slow as a result of downtown SF’s plodding recovery. BART now faces a financial shortfall, and if the gap isn’t closed it may have to make severe cuts. Those cuts would cause even fewer people to come to downtown SF, threatening the city’s recovery. We cannot afford to slash BART, especially not at this critical time. This measure would provide the funding BART needs to stay afloat with a temporary regional sales tax, including a hike of 1% in San Francisco. While we don’t love the idea of a new tax on top of our already high cost of living, we simply cannot afford to let BART fail. We strongly endorse “yes” on the regional transit measure.
Yes on the SF Muni Funding Measure
The issues here are much the same as with the BART funding measure above. SF’s Municipal Transportation Agency has been making important changes to improve system efficiency and reduce operational costs, but the drag of SF’s slow downtown recovery has been too much. Muni needs more funding and we can’t allow the city to lose mobility at this critical time. This measure would raise funding through a temporary parcel tax amounting to $150 per year for properties under 3,000 square feet, and progressively more for larger properties. Here, again, we believe this funding is necessary to prevent stalling the city’s recovery. We endorse a resounding “yes” on the Muni funding measure.