San Francisco Board Supervisor Jane Kim Running for Mayor

Supervisor Jane Kim filing to run for mayor of San Francisco in the June 2018 special election. Courtesy of S.F. Examiner.

With the recent and sudden passing of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, there has been some speculation as to who may run for mayor in a special election in 2018. Well, we now know at least one candidate, and that is current San Francisco Board of Supervisor (District 6), Jane Kim:

“The upcoming mayor’s race has its newest major candidate: Supervisor Jane Kim, who pulled papers to run for mayor Wednesday from the Department of Elections.

“You’re not going to ask me why I’m here?” Kim jokingly asked department staff Wednesday morning, who have been anticipating rumored mayoral hopefuls.

Her June 2018 mayoral run would see her go toe-to-toe against former state Sen. Mark Leno, former Supervisor Angela Alioto, homeless advocate Amy Farrah Weiss and other filed candidates. Rumored candidates who have yet to file include Acting Mayor London Breed, Supervisors Mark Farrell, Assemblymember David Chiu and City Attorney Dennis Herrera.”

To be honest, until reading this article, I didn’t realize the field was already this crowded! I don’t live in San Francisco proper nor follow the politics there that closely, so I don’t have an idea as to how well Kim is positioned in the special election.

I first met Kim through a mutual friend (and fellow 8Asians.com blogger) when Kim first ran for San Francisco Board of Education back in 2004 (she came in 7th place, out of 12 candidates, for 4 seats). I remember attending her kick-off campaign event in 2010 when Kim first ran for supervisor, and was pretty touched as she described her immigrant background. And in awe when Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed and campaigned for Kim for California State Senate.

While I don’t necessarily agree with Kim politically on everything, but I certainly wish her the best of luck in running. With Mayor Ed Lee being San Francisco’s first Asian American and Chinese American mayor, I think it would be terrific if Kim made history by being the first Asian American and Korean American woman to be elected mayor of San Francisco.