Incumbent Supervisor of San Francisco’s 5th Ward, Dean Preston, a self-described democratic socialist, has officially won his seat against challenger Bilal Mahmoud, who leads Preston by 1,339 votes in the latest count. I conceded the fight.
Preston, who was elected in 2019, drew the ire of tech billionaires and YIMBY supporters during his time in office by advocating for progressive policies such as rent control and higher taxes on landlords.
His loss reflects a recent shift to the right across the city, with moderate candidates gaining votes at the expense of progressives even as more moderate ballot measures struggle to pass. It has been a success overall. Progressive Jackie Fielder, who won the 9th District seat last week, is the only exception so far, while Progressive Supervisor Connie Chan continues to challenge moderate challenger Marjane Philhour in the 1st District. It has been a close race with Mr. Chan, and Mr. Chan currently has the following results. 1,000 votes.
“I have always fought for people who are often disadvantaged and vulnerable,” Preston said in a statement posted to Instagram on Sunday. “I wouldn’t change it one bit. We can’t win every battle, but we’ll keep fighting.”
Mr. Preston’s successor, Mr. Mahmoud, is a high-tech executive and former policy analyst for President Obama. His campaign, largely funded by Silicon Valley bigwigs, emphasized a desire to dismantle the bureaucratic red tape surrounding housing construction and a more aggressive crackdown on the city’s long-running fentanyl crisis.
“I believe this is representative of the broader collaborative campaign we have been building,” Mahmoud said in a statement to Mission Local. “And obviously it appeals to both progressives and moderates in the district.”
Photo via Wikimedia
