Aaron Peskin, once the progressive kingpin of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for 17 years, now finds himself in a new political landscape following last year’s elections.
After attending a pivotal meeting on April 23, 2025, focused on designating part of North Beach as a historic district, Peskin recognized the shift in power dynamics.
At this meeting, District 3’s new supervisor, Danny Sauter, a moderate who triumphed over Peskin’s progressive candidate, and a mayoral aide expressed concerns about the impact of the historic district on development.
To add to the tension, Peskin later remarked on the limited legal and technical understanding demonstrated at the meeting, indicating a friction between the city’s factions.
This encounter underscores the ongoing struggle within San Francisco politics, where progressive leaders like Peskin, while no longer dominant, remain active nine months after voters shifted their allegiance to Mayor Daniel Lurie, bringing a moderate majority to the Board of Supervisors.
Interviews with various progressive leaders and political analysts spotlight the strategies that the liberal faction is employing to reclaim influence ahead of the impending 2026 elections.
Their optimism is amplified by recent events, such as the Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s remarkable success in New York City’s mayoral primary and President Donald Trump’s escalating attacks on blue states and cities.
Progressives are frustrated with Lurie’s perceived passivity regarding Trump’s policies, viewing his reluctance as an opportunity to mobilize local resistance.
Tom Ammiano, a former progressive Supervisor, remarked, “The mistake would be to think that progressives are over in San Francisco. I know the fire is still there. I know there will be change.”
Moderates had previously triumphed in elections by portraying progressive leaders as ineffective at solving pressing issues like homelessness, crime, and order on the streets.
This shift in power was bolstered by an unprecedented financial influx from tech elites aligned with center-right agendas, capitalizing on voter concerns about public safety overshadowing affordability issues.
Jane Kim, a former supervisor and current director of the California Working Families Party, argues that the volatility of San Francisco politics is cyclical, stating, “What you see is that there are cycles. These things swing back and forth.”
She believes that the city fluctuates between progressive ideals focused on affordability and moderate approaches addressing street conditions as priorities.
Even as the year progresses, cracks are forming in the moderate coalition, with growing discontent stemming from Trump’s immigration policies impacting local communities.
Lurie’s muted responses to these policies have outraged progressive constituents who are demanding stronger action from the mayor.
Peskin asserts, “Lurie is not going to pretend Donald Trump doesn’t exist forever. San Franciscans of all political stripes don’t want a mayor who is silent.”
This discontent has allowed progressives to seize the narrative and lead the charge against federal policies they find harmful, with Supervisor Jackie Fielder emerging as a vocal opponent of both Lurie’s policies and Trump’s agenda.
Ammiano praises Fielder’s success in her campaign, highlighting her ability to perform well without the resources available to opposing candidates.
Her critique of Lurie’s $15.9 billion budget, which slashes funding for nonprofit services while redirecting tax dollars away from homelessness, has sparked further tension between moderates and progressives as the latter push for permanent supportive housing.
Across the nation, Mamdani’s unexpected rise as the Democratic nominee for mayor exemplifies hope for San Francisco’s progressives, offering a possible strategy for their revival.
Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, advocating for affordability and proposing expansive initiatives like free transit and rent freezes, all while maintaining a progressive vision that also resonates with YIMBY advocates.
Jen Snyder, a progressive consultant, notes that Mamdani’s campaign emphasized bold ideas over complex, niche policies, a tactic that may resonate in San Francisco’s political climate.
Jason McDaniel, a political science professor at San Francisco State University, remarks on Mamdani’s unique ability to appeal to both progressive and YIMBY factions, noting that this balance could be a winning strategy for local leaders as well.
Saikat Chakrabarti, who is now challenging Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for her congressional seat, aligns himself with the principles of the YIMBY movement, emphasizing the need for substantial reforms to combat the decline of progressive ideals.
Chakrabarti stressed, “We have to do the big structural changes that we all know are long overdue.”
Despite these shifts, local progressives are not yet fully embracing YIMBYism.
In light of a state mandate to increase housing construction, Lurie has proposed easing zoning restrictions, which has led to significant pushback from property owners, small businesses, and tenant rights groups who oppose his plan.
Julie Pitta, president of the Phoenix Project, noted that opposition to Lurie’s rezoning initiative has created a broad coalition against development, with many progressives joining forces with preservationist groups.
The passage of Proposition K, which permanently closed the Great Highway to vehicle traffic and transformed the area into a park, has further galvanised opposition against the proposed rezoning.
Looking ahead, the upcoming recall election on September 16, 2025, against moderate Supervisor Joel Engardio is poised to test the political landscape further.
Engardio’s position has become controversial, dividing moderate supporters between those who view his unpopularity as a liability and those see value in his support for Lurie’s policies.
Lurie has avoided taking a public stance on Engardio, despite the supervisor’s reliability in backing the mayor’s agenda.
The Democratic County Central Committee has similarly postponed its endorsement decision regarding Engardio’s recall, reflecting the uncertainty within the moderate alliance.
Should Engardio be recalled, it is likely that Lurie would appoint another moderate aligned with his rezoning strategy, but progressives are already strategizing on how to counter such maneuvers.
They are actively contemplating candidates to run against any Lurie-appointed supervisor in the next election cycle, thereby improving their chances of combating moderate policies in City Hall.
Despite stepping back from active governance for the next election cycle, Peskin isn’t ruling out a return to political office.
He stated, “I have no plans to run for any office. That is a true fact. But you never know what crosses one’s path.”
As the story of San Francisco’s political scene continues to evolve, progressive factions remain determined to reclaim their influence and resonate with an electorate that is becoming increasingly discontent with the status quo.
image source from：sfstandard
