Politics of San Francisco

Following the social upheavals of the 1960s, San Francisco became one of the centers of liberal activism, with Democrats, Greens, and progressives dominating city politics. This continuing trend is also visible in the results of presidential elections; the last Republican to win San Francisco was Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. Although the fight between Democrats and Republicans has been unequal for the last forty years, it has become increasingly lopsided, with conservative commentators frequently attacking the city's politics using the ad hominem phrase, "San Francisco values".[2] In spite of its heavy liberal leanings, San Francisco has the highest percentage of "no party preference" voters of any California county, as of November, 2012.[3] Campaign corruption is monitored by the San Francisco Ethics Commission and violations result in fines up to $5,000 per violation.

San Francisco City Hall illuminated in commemorative red, white, and blue lighting on Election Day November 6, 2018
San Francisco County vote
by party in presidential elections[1]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 9.2% 37,688 84.5% 345,084 6.3% 25,772
2012 13.0% 47,076 83.4% 301,723 3.6% 12,996
2008 13.7% 52,292 84.2% 322,220 2.2% 8,353
2004 15.2% 54,355 83.0% 296,772 1.8% 6,338
2000 16.1% 51,496 75.5% 241,578 8.4% 26,712
1996 15.7% 45,479 72.2% 209,777 12.1% 35,129
1992 17.8% 57,352 72.4% 233,263 9.8% 31,592
1988 26.1% 72,503 72.8% 201,887 1.1% 3,004
1984 31.4% 90,219 67.4% 193,278 1.2% 3,475
1980 31.9% 80,967 52.4% 133,184 15.7% 39,877
1976 40.3% 103,561 52.1% 133,733 7.6% 19,594
1972 41.8% 127,461 56.1% 170,882 2.1% 6,427
1968 33.7% 100,970 59.2% 177,509 7.2% 21,468
1964 28.7% 92,994 71.2% 230,758 0.1% 156
1960 41.8% 143,001 57.8% 197,734 0.4% 1,484
1956 51.8% 173,648 48.0% 161,766 0.5% 1,553
1952 52.9% 198,158 46.0% 172,312 1.1% 4,230
1948 45.7% 160,135 47.8% 167,726 6.5% 22,848
1944 38.9% 134,163 60.5% 208,609 0.6% 1,959
1940 39.3% 122,449 59.5% 185,607 1.2% 3,822
1936 24.7% 65,436 74.0% 196,197 1.3% 3,368
1932 31.4% 70,152 64.6% 144,236 4.0% 8,809
1928 49.1% 95,987 49.4% 96,632 1.5% 2,849
1924 47.8% 73,494 6.4% 9,811 45.9% 70,615
1920 65.2% 96,105 22.1% 32,637 12.7% 18,708
1916 42.3% 63,093 52.5% 78,225 5.3% 7,834
1912 Not on ballot 48.4% 48,953 51.6% 52,195
1908 55.2% 33,184 35.4% 21,260 9.4% 5,680
1904 60.9% 39,816 27.6% 18,027 11.6% 7,584
1900 55.7% 35,208 39.9% 25,212 4.4% 2,782
1896 49.2% 31,041 48.6% 30,649 2.2% 1,396
1892 41.8% 24,416 53.1% 31,022 5.1% 2,997

State and federal representation

In the California State Senate, San Francisco is in the 11th Senate District, represented by Democrat Scott Wiener. In the California State Assembly, it is split between the 17th Assembly District, represented by Democrat David Chiu, and the 19th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Phil Ting.[4]

In the United States House of Representatives, San Francisco is split between two congressional districts. Most of the city is in the 12th District, represented by Nancy Pelosi (D–San Francisco). A sliver in the southwest is part of the 14th District represented by Jackie Speier (D–Hillsborough).[5] Pelosi has been the current House Speaker since January 3, 2019, a post she also held from 2007 through 2011. She has also held the post of House Minority Leader, from 2003 to 2007 and 2011 to 2019.

Local politics

The city is governed by a mayor and an 11-member Board of Supervisors, both elected using preferential voting. The current mayor is London Breed.

Housing

Housing is a frequent topic in San Francisco politics.

San Francisco has the highest housing prices in the United States.[6] As of 2018, its median house price was $1.61 million, almost twice the average from five years earlier.[7] Many factors contribute to the housing situation in San Francisco. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of available homes to live in. The Bay Area, from 2011 to 2015, only created 1 home for every 8 jobs created.[8]

San Francisco has some of the most stringent housing laws in the United States. It ranks 3rd among cities in the United States as the hardest city to build in.[9]

It has been estimated by San Francisco's chief economist that in order for prices in San Francisco to stabilize, the city would need around 100,000 units to reduce prices.[10]

Voter registration statistics, 2013
Total population[11] 797,983
  Registered voters[12][note 1] 497,663 62.4%
    Democratic[12] 276,855 55.6%
    Republican[12] 42,922 8.6%
    Democratic–Republican spread[12] +233,933 +47.0%
    Independent[12] 8,918 1.8%
    Green[12] 8,215 1.7%
    Libertarian[12] 3,028 0.6%
    Peace and Freedom[12] 1,727 0.3%
    Americans Elect[12] 23 0.0%
    Other[12] 1,284 0.3%
    No party preference[12] 154,691 31.1%

Voter participation statistics
  • Total Registration and Turnout
    • November 6, 2018[13]
      • Registration 500,516
      • Turnout 345,806
    • June 5, 2018[14]
      • Registration 481,991
      • Turnout 253,583
    • November 8, 2016[15]
      • Registration 513,573[16]
      • Turnout 414,528
    • June 7, 2016[17]
      • Registration 468,238
      • Turnout 264,993
    • November 3, 2015[18]
      • Registration 446,828
      • Turnout 203,069
    • November 4, 2014[19]
      • Registration 436,019
      • Turnout 231,214
    • June 3, 2014[20]
      • Registration 435,757
      • Turnout 129,399
    • November 5, 2013[21]
      • Registration 440,037
      • Turnout 128,937
    • November 6, 2012[22]
      • Registration 502,841
      • Turnout 364,875
    • June 5, 2012[23]
      • Registration 470,668
      • Turnout 145105

Notes
  1. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

See also

References
  1. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/
  2. Garofoli, Joe (November 3, 2006). "Three Dirty Words: San Francisco Values". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  3. "Historical Voter Registration Statistics" (PDF). 15-Day Report of Registration for the November 6, 2012, General Election. Secretary of State of California. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  4. "Communities of Interest — County". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  5. "California's 12th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  6. "San Francisco has highest rent prices in the world, claims housing startup". Curbed SF. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  7. "San Francisco's median house price climbs to $1.61 million". Curbed SF. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  8. "Workforce Housing - Bay Area Council". Bay Area Council. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  9. "The Toughest Places to Build: Behind the Scenes of a Wall Street Journal Analysis". www.buildzoom.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  10. Lamb, Jonah Owen (February 12, 2014). "Leveling SF housing field could take 100,000 new units". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  12. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived November 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  13. "California General Election County Reporting Status". California General Election Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Semi-Official Election Results. November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018.
  14. "June 5, 2018 Election Results". sfelections.sfgov.org. June 27, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  15. "November 8, 2016 Election Results". sfelections.sfgov.org. June 20, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  16. "SFDOE Results November 8, 2016". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  17. "SFDOE Results June 7, 2016". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  18. "SFDOE Results November 3, 2015". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  19. "SFDOE Results November 4, 2014". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  20. "SFDOE Results June 3, 2014". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  21. "SFDOE Results November 5, 2013". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  22. "SFDOE Results November 6, 2012". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  23. "SFDOE Results June 5, 2012, Consolidated Presidential Primary Election". sfelections.org. Retrieved 7 November 2018.

Further reading
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