San Francisco has elected a new mayor, Daniel Lurie, a wealthy Democratic philanthropist with no prior government experience. Lurie, 47, a member of the Levi Strauss family, is known for his years leading a local non-profit and defeated incumbent Mayor London Breed and several other Democratic challengers in a race that set records for campaign spending.
In a statement following his victory, Lurie expressed gratitude to his family, campaign team, and the city’s residents, promising to work toward “a safer and more affordable city for all.” Lurie personally invested over $8 million in his campaign, with an additional $1 million contributed by his mother, Mimi Haas. This support helped make Lurie the first mayor in over a century to take office without prior government experience, which the San Francisco Chronicle described as making him the city’s “least experienced mayor in a long time.”
The Chronicle, which endorsed Lurie, commended his approach to tackling San Francisco’s persistent homelessness crisis, noting his blend of “compassion and toughness” as qualities the city needs in its leadership. Lurie drew on his background at the Tipping Point Foundation, a nonprofit focused on housing and poverty alleviation, as proof of his capability to address the city’s challenges.
San Francisco’s political landscape is primarily Democratic, with voters choosing between moderate and progressive candidates. Lurie’s centrist appeal ultimately helped him unseat Breed, who had served since 2018 as the city’s first Black female mayor. Breed, raised in public housing by her grandmother, conceded the race on Thursday and congratulated Lurie, emphasizing their shared commitment to the city’s progress.
In his victory speech, Lurie acknowledged San Francisco's struggles with post-pandemic economic recovery, rising housing costs, and a homelessness crisis exacerbated by high living costs. Although crime rates have fallen by 32%, public safety and affordable housing were major issues in the race. In an interview, Lurie highlighted his plan to address homelessness, including adding 1,500 emergency shelter beds in his first six months.
Lurie’s deep San Francisco roots, through both the Levi Strauss family and the Haas Foundation, have tied him closely to the city’s identity. His mother, Mimi Haas, is married into the Strauss legacy, and his father, Rabbi Brian Lurie, is a former director of the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation. As Lurie prepares to step into office, the city looks toward his administration with cautious optimism for solutions to long-standing challenges.
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