San Francisco Mayor London Breed concedes race to Levi Strauss heir

San Francisco Mayor London Breed lost her reelection bid with voters electing Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie to be the city’s next leader.

Daniel Lurie, a millionaire who leads an anti-poverty non-profit Tipping Point Community, spent big on his own campaign to unseat fellow Democrat Breed, the city's first Black female mayor.

Breed conceded on Thursday and pledged a “smooth transition” with Lurie taking over the post early next year.

“I have always worked to be a Mayor for all San Franciscans,” Breed said in a Thursday post on X, adding that she called Lurie to congratulate him on the victory.

“I want to thank all of the City staff who have worked tirelessly to improve this City for the last six years. I am the Mayor – but you all are doing the hard work every day and the City is on the rise,” she added.

“Over the coming weeks, I plan to reflect on all the progress we’ve made. But today, I am proud that we have truly accomplished so much and my heart is filled with gratitude.”

The Associated Press (AP) and Decision Desk HQ have not called the race yet, but local news outlets have.

Breed was consistently criticized by her Democratic competitors in the race over the city’s retail theft, open-air drug use and handling of homeless encampments.

Lurie, who invested almost $9 million in his first mayoral run, has not held a public office before but has vowed to voters to ensure the city has “clean and safe streets” and tackled the “behavioral health crisis.”

“Here’s the truth: Turning around this city is not going to happen overnight. No matter who wins this election, we have extremely difficult challenges ahead,” Lurie said in a Wednesday statement on X. “But here’s another truth: our opportunities and advantages are more powerful.”

“This moment calls for leadership rooted in true public service, one that puts the people of San Francisco above all else,” he added. “To tackle these issues, we need to work together and turn the page on the politics of demonizing each other on every issue.”

Breed won her bid for San Francisco’s mayor in a 2018 special election to replace Ed Lee, who died in office, and was reelected in 2019 for a full four-year term.