The otherwise sedate race to fill the soon-to-be empty 11th District state Senate seat of Mark Leno (in 2016) just got a little more interesting, with word coming that San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim has entered into the fray. Her candidacy, officially announced this morning, challenges the other declared candidate and fellow San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener.
The Supervisor's official announcement puts her in direct conflict with Supervisor Wiener, who has often been a foe of the "progressive bloc" on the board of which Kim is a part, as she has established the singular focus of her campaign to be affordable housing.
"For decades, the Bay Area's strength has been in the diversity of innovators, immigrants, artists, and entrepreneurs who call the region home. But in recent years, many no longer feel they can afford to stay in the region. We are in grave danger of losing the backbone of the Bay Area; our middle-class families."Today, I'm announcing my candidacy for State Senate District 11 to fight to keep the region affordable for the very people who make the Bay Area the place everyone wants to call home."
While this news was expected, it may not come as welcome to Supervisor Wiener's campaign team. And according to the Examiner, Wiener's camp is already throwing shade.
"Wiener's campaign manager Maggie Muir said Kim enters the race 'behind the eight ball,' noting that Wiener announced back in July and has already amassed close to half a million dollars in contributions."
This is funny of course because the election is still over a year away. And it's for State Senate.
The two Supervisors butted heads most recently with conflicting endorsements in the upcoming District 3 Board of Supervisors election. Supervisor Kim has endorsed the more progressive Aaron Peskin, while Supervisor Wiener has backed the Mayor's appointee and favorite Supervisor Julie Christensen.
As of press time, Supervisor Kim's office has not returned a request for comment.
Previously: Jane Kim Proposing 30% Affordable Housing In New Developments