The San Francisco Democratic Party is poised to evaluate a resolution that proposes a mandatory retirement age for certain elected officials, reflecting concerns over the party’s recent electoral struggles.
The central committee plans to vote on the resolution put forth by member Eric Kingsbury, who suggests that local and state Democrats should contemplate an age cap for their representatives.
Kingsbury’s initiative stems from notable party losses in recent years, citing examples such as former President Joe Biden and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, both of whom continued in their roles despite showing signs of mental and physical decline.
“We have seen our fundamental rights and our democracy put at risk…because we’ve had situations where there have been octogenarians in key roles who were unfortunately not able to perform any longer,” Kingsbury explained to KQED.
The proposal, if passed, would be non-binding and aims to encourage a discussion among local and state Democrats regarding potential age limits for government officials, specifically excluding the federal level, and does not advocate for a specific retirement age.
Kingsbury clarified that the resolution is not aimed at targeting Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who is currently 85 years old, emphasizing, “If every politician at 85 were as capable and sharp and had the sort of fierce urgency that she does and is still so tapped into, then we wouldn’t have to have this conversation at all. Nancy Pelosi is not somebody that we should be having this conversation about.”
Mandatory retirement ages, while rare for elected officials, exist in various public professions such as airline pilots, state judges, and public safety officers in certain jurisdictions. The resolution notes, “More than 30 U.S. states have implemented age limits for judges to balance institutional knowledge with public accountability.”
Should the resolution receive approval, proponents plan to address the issue at the state Democratic Party convention scheduled for May. This would be part of a broader array of resolutions emerging from the local party.
Notably, after progressives lost several seats in recent elections, control of the local committee has shifted to more moderate Democrats. Other resolutions under consideration focus on addressing public corruption, enhancing public safety staffing, increasing housing development in California, and boosting support for public education.
Nancy Tung, chair of San Francisco’s Democratic Party, commented on the necessity for members to return their focus to the foundational concerns of everyday people, such as working families, young adults, and immigrants.
“The most important lesson for Democrats is that we have gotten too far away from the kitchen table concerns of working people, working families and individuals, young people and immigrants,” she stated.
She further noted that the party’s moderate shift is in direct response to voter demand for change, both locally and nationally.
As the party grapples with collective strategies against Republicans and President Donald Trump, it has faced internal challenges.
Recently, major groups such as the Rose Pak Asian American Club and the Latinx Democratic Club declined to recharter with the local Democratic Party, attributing their decision to disagreements over the party’s direction and leadership.
Even though San Francisco remains overwhelmingly Democratic, the number of voters supporting Trump in the most recent presidential election surged compared to previous years.
The upcoming meeting, set for Wednesday night, will take place at the West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center, differing from the usual state building venue. This change is part of a concerted effort to engage more directly with local communities across San Francisco.
Tung remarked, “The reorientation of the party, just like the reorientation of San Francisco, has been a long time in the coming.”
She believes that adjusting the party’s dialogue at the local level can have a positive trickle-down effect on state and national elections, showcasing Democrats as committed individuals eager to make San Francisco function better.
image source from：https://www.kqed.org/news/12037076/san-francisco-democrats-consider-mandatory-retirement-ages-for-representatives
