Hamasaki endorsed by S.F. Democratic Party for D.A.
San Francisco District Attorney candidate John Hamasaki has nabbed an official endorsement from the city’s Democratic party, a potentially valuable boost in a race where one poll showed him more than 20 points behind incumbent Brooke Jenkins.
Though some of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee’s 33 members have publicly supported Jenkins, no one ranked her as their first- or secondchoice candidate for the party’s endorsement during the Wednesday night vote. November’s election will be a ranked-choice voting contest, where voters list their preferred candidates in order.
Those who have personally endorsed Jenkins, including state Controller candidate Malia Cohen, state Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, instead opted to vote for no endorsement — a strategy often used in an attempt to block the endorsement of an opposing candidate.
Civil rights attorney Joe Alioto Veronese won the party’s second-choice endorsement.
Jenkins, who was appointed to her post in July by Mayor London Breed, came into power after helping lead a successful recall against her former boss, District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Jenkins is viewed as perhaps the most moderate candidate in the pool, while Hamasaki, an outspoken progressive and former police commissioner, is courting the votes of the city’s progressives, including those who supported Boudin.
In a Twitter statement, Hamasaki said he was “honored” to have received all the first-place votes.
“I have to say, I was expecting much more drama, but every vote cast went my way, which was just mind-blowing,” he said.
Alioto Veronese, a civil rights attorney, also took a victory lap around social media.
“Shocking rejection,” he tweeted. “Democratic party endorsing my campaign and abandons acting-DA Brooke Jenkins. Will you join the #DCCC and me?”
Anika Steig, a campaign consultant for Jenkins, accused the DCCC of being driven by political ideology.
“They opposed the Boudin recall and just endorsed a candidate who has called for de-funding the District Attorney’s Office he’s running for,” Steig said, referring to an old tweet by Hamasaki. “They don’t represent a focus on public safety that the majority of San Franciscans are asking for.”
A statement from Breed’s office echoed this sentiment, painting the DCCC as out of touch with residents.
“The mayor is listening to everyday San Franciscans, not just a handful of political insiders, and people want what Brooke is delivering,” said Breed spokesperson Jeff Cretan. “One would hope the local Democratic Party would see the bigger picture of what’s happening, that people want to feel safe — in addition to, not in opposition to, the important reform work that needs to continue.”
A poll paid for by Jenkins’ campaign shows her with a sizable lead over her challengers, with 49% of likely voters naming her as the first-choice candidate. Hamasaki came in second place with 26% of the votes and Alioto Veronese came in third with 15%.
John Avalos, a DCCC member and former San Francisco supervisor, said Wednesday that he not only took issue with Jenkins’ direction of the office, but what he felt was a “fundamental issue of integrity” that arose given her financial ties to a nonprofit organization linked to the recall.
Among those who voted for Hamasaki were Avalos, Supervisor Hillary Ronen and Public Defender Mano Raju.
Jason McDaniel, a political scientist at San Francisco State University, said the endorsement will “absolutely be valuable” for Hamasaki, but doubts it will be enough to edge out Jenkins in the race.
“Endorsements are most effective when they are boosting candidates that already have a strong foothold in the electorate,” McDaniel said, noting that Hamasaki has little name recognition among voters.
The final tally was 11 first-choice votes for Hamasaki, and none for Jenkins or Alioto Veronese.
Eight members abstained from voting and eight voted for no endorsement. Alioto Veronese had nine second-choice votes. Nine members abstained from voting for a secondchoice and nine voted for no endorsement. Six members didn’t vote.
The District Attorney’s election, which is ranked choice, will be held on Nov. 8.