iwones naayiscnutny•rgsrto and registration • consultancy analytics an viewpointers, swing voters lcinsuy•peae o ar as ue2020 june © • marso larry for prepared • study election

republicans unique and influential

July 2019-March 2020 ?

, a San Francisco analytics consultancy, is a pioneer

Viewpointers of “cast vote” technology that reads whole ballot cards.

How did voters for one candidate vote in other races?

What was each voter’s party in the March 2020 primary?

Who skipped races? Which races had high party participation

Citywide. Precincts level. Individual voting stations.

[email protected] Special thanks to the San Francisco Department of Elections SAN FRANCISCO REPUBLICANS UNIQUE & INFLUENTIAL SWING VOTERS

Preface: The Irrelevant Meme

1 District Attorney Republicans elect Chesa Boudin 2 D5 Supervisor Republicans elect Dean Preston 3 Proposition D (Nov) Republicans pass / Tax

4 Tech Sidelined Missed opportunities 5 Voter Registration Republican position in freefall 6 Congressional D12 Surprising Republican split

7 State Offices Smith and McDonnell outperform 8 Proposition D (Mar) Republicans pass Vacancy Tax 9 Superior Court 21 Republicans elect Carolyn Gold

Epilogue: Future of the Party PREFACE The Irrelevant Meme

Republican voters in San Francisco are dismissed as a joke, irrelevant, powerless.

Such thinking infects both the left and the right. Yes, many Republicans believe it too.

Leaders, media, and rank and file voters on the left question whether the party even exists. Worse, they call Republicans MAGA racist “fine people” with little pushback.

Is it better on the right? Local Republican donors, rank and file voters, and party leadership often signal low expectations and misinterpret election results.

In search of a base, some Republicans lunge rightward, treat San Francisco as a “national stage” to attack politicians supported by many Republican voters, and scramble for minutes on Fox News — withdrawing almost entirely from local politics.

They get wrong one simple fact:

San Francisco Republicans are unique and influential swing votersin some of the most important local elections. Republicans have decided ballot measures and determined whether center/center-left candidates prevail over far-left progressives.

This influence has gone awry and is slipping away. From July 2019 to March 2020, Republicans missed opportunities and their registration position deteriorated.

The decline of the Republican swing voter puts San Francisco policy in turmoil.

P Preface DISTRICT ATTORNEY BOUDIN Ranked Choice

BOUDIN Source: Department of Elections

¡ BOUDIN TUS registered voted

TUS to scale margin Republicans

TUNG Description Votes % TUS Boudin X 86,712 50.8% Loftus 83,872 49.2% Total NG Counted 170,584 100.0% Vote TCH Margin 2,840 1.7% Swing 1,421 0.8% Multiple of Boudin Margin ⇓ fell out Fell Out – Tung 15,981 5.6x ped fell out Fell Out – Total 35,533 12.5x R Nonvoters 18,714 6.6x 1 2 3 Multiple of Boudin Swing ⇓ Rounds Tung→Boudin 13,162 9.3x R Turnout 13,907 9.8x

The Republican Party did not formally oppose Chesa Boudin or encourage voters to complete the full ranked choice ballot. The Party formally recommended Nancy Tung, a second-tier Democrat. Republicans who strictly followed this guidance fell out during the 2nd round. Any combination of small changes to Republican swing votes, fell out or swing votes defeats Boudin. Republican turnout almost 10 times the Boudin swing vote. Republican nonvoters over 6.5 times the Boudin margin. Mayoral candidate Zhou (R) voters broke for Boudin over Loftus, 13,111 to 11,651, enough to swing the race, and 10,458 more fell out. D5 Supervisor candidate Lam (R) voters also broke for Boudin.

Chesa Boudin, the adopted son of radicals and Bernadine Dohrn, won the November 2019 race for San Francisco District Attorney. The former public defender, with no experience as a prosecutor, offered a George Soros inspired progressive agenda. “The most distinctive platform” in the D.A. race said the SF Chronicle. Boudin promised to stop prosecuting the homeless for misdemeanors, end “mass incarceration” of violent felons and defend “safe injection sites”.

1 Influence: Republicans Elect Chesa Boudin DISTRICT 5 SUPERVISOR

WN Ranked Choice BROWN Source:

BRO Department of Elections D5 registered PRESTO voted

margin Republicans to scale STO

Description Votes % ES . EAR Brown 11,538 49 6% Preston X 11,723 50.4% Total Vote Counted 23,261 100.0% AM AM Margin 185 0.8% Swing 93 0.4% Multiple of Preston Margin ⇓ fell out fell out ped FellOut–Lam 335 1.8x Fell Out – Total 1,504 8.1x 1 2 3 R Nonvoters D5 1,119 6.0x Rounds Multiple of Preston Swing ⇓ Lam→Preston 414 4.5x R Turnout D5 868 9.3x

The Republican Party did not formally oppose Dean Preston or encourage voters to complete the full ranked choice ballot. In his first campaign, young Republican Ryan Lam (R) entered the race. Any combination of small changes to Republican swing votes, fell out or turnout defeats Preston. Republican turnout over 9 times the Boudin swing of just 93 ( ! ) votes. Republican nonvoters 6 times the Boudin margin. Lam voters, after the 2nd round, broke for Preston and elected him. Mayoral candidate Zhou (R) voters also broke for Preston over Brown, 957 to 496, enough to swing the race, and 241 fell out.

Dean Preston won the November 2019 special election for District 5 Supervisor. Preston began his legal practice in the office of Democrat litigator John Burris, where he specialized in suing police officers and departments. For the past 20 years, Preston has represented tenants against San Francisco landlords at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, and has fought rent control reform statewide. In 2019, Preston joined the Democratic Socialists of America, their only elected municipal official in California.

2 Influence: Republicans Elect Dean Preston PROPOSITION D (Nov. 2019) Uber/Lyft Tax

Source: Department of Elections

Description Votes % Threshold 133,745 66.7%

to scale YES X 135,721 67.7% NO 64,896 32.3% Total 200,617 100.0% needed Margin 1976 1.0% 2 ⁄3 Swing 989 0.5% Multiple of YES Margin ⇓ Skipped 5,505 5.6x R NonVoters 18,714 6.6x Multiple of YES Swing ⇓ RTurnout 13,907 14.1x

The Republican Party won the lottery to become the “official opponent” certified by the Department of Elections.

Although the Party formally endorsed NO on D, it is unclear Republicans campaigned against the tax. A media search and voter canvass identified no earned media, ad buys or slate mailer.

Any combination of small changes to Republican swing votes or turnout defeats Proposition D. Flipping less than 1,000 votes swings the race. Republican turnout over 14 times the YES swing vote. Republican nonvoters almost 7 times the YES margin.

A rare opportunity to engage younger voters: Fight a permanent tax on your everyday personal and professional lifestyle. Take another look at the Republican Party — free markets are “Uber for Everything”.

Proposition D, which imposed a 3.25% tax on Uber & Lyft individual rides, passed in November 2019. This tax rate is over 40% of the local sales tax. Ridership is predominently younger voters coveted by the Republican Party. Prior to Shelter in Place, 5,700 vehicles made 170,000 trips daily within San Francisco, about 12 times the number of taxi trips, representing 15 percent of all intra-San Francisco vehicle trips. Shared rides, subject to a lower 1.5% tax, are suspended during Shelter in Place.

3 Influence: Republicans Pass Uber/Lyft Tax Source: Department of Elections TECH SIDELINED (at October 2019) Missed Opportunities

Registered Voters by Precinct

0 50 100 150 200

No Party Preference (Under 30) Republicans (of All Ages) 30,389 32,542

uber/lyft friday am shared ride pickups About as many NPP voters under the age of thirty as voters of all source: sfmta ages in the Republican Party.

Where one map is darker, the other is often lighter.

Proposed campaigns for November 2019 included analytics-driven email, virtual phone banks, robocall and SMS to urge NPP under 30 and Republicans of all ages to vote NO on the Uber/Lyft tax. Focus on areas with heavy Uber/Lyft pickups and dropoffs identified by the SFMTA. Including younger, high NPP precincts where the Republican Party has made few inroads.

Another: Ranked Voting education targeting precincts with high historical “fell out” in the analytics.

a media search and voter canvass identified no such efforts by the republican party.

4 Tech Sidelined New P Join Leave REGISTRATION Required to Match Growth of Voters Position in Freefall

Source: A Democratic Party Home Run Department of Elections

+37,687 (22,388) +19,134 (3,067) 40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 Registration is dynamic, with new voters, DOE purges of the voter rolls and party switching.

Between July 2019 and March 2020, the Democratic Party routed San Francisco Republicans.

Democrats — their local county central committee in the lead — registered 37,687 new voters and convinced 19,134 voters to re-register as Democrat between July 2019 and March 2020. 5.0% of Republicans became Democrats. Only 0.2% of Democrats became Republicans.

After purges and leavers, there are 31,367 new Democrats, totalling 318,367 (up 4.3% from 287,024). This increase, alone, almost the size of the entire Republican Party. Overall San Francisco registration rose to 513,660 (up 3.2% from 497,634). Only 33,087 Republicans remained in San Francisco after the election (down to 6.4%).

5-A Registration Catastrophe New Purge Join Leave REGISTRATION Required to Match Growth of Voters Position in Freefall

Source: No Party Preference: The Harvest Department of Elections

+12,292 (12,725) +3,539 (17,484) 15,000

10,000

5,000

0

-5,000

-10,000

-15,000

The Republican Party did not disrupt the Democratic Party’s widely anticipated harvest of NPP voters. 15,184 of the 17,484 voters who left NPP re-registered Democrat. 43.5% the size of the entire Republican Party. 2.3% of Republicans re-registered NPP.

After purges and party leavers, there are 14,378 fewer NPP (down from 32.4% to 28.6%). Transformation of the San Francisco electoral landscape.

In March 2020, 41,317 NPP of the 53,447 who turned out requested the Democratic Party ballot. The most popular NPP vote for President was Bernie Sanders. Shatters the myth that San Francisco’s NPP are “silent conservatives”.

5-B Registration Catastrophe New Purge Join Leave REGISTRATION Required to Match Growth of Voters Position in Freefall

Source: Republican Party Percentage Down Department of Elections

+3,038 (2,275) +2,338 (2,515) Republican registration did not 4,000 keep up with voter growth in San 2,000 Francisco, declining to 6.4%. 0

A media search and voter canvass did not identify a serious Republican registration drive in San Francisco, or any ongoing program to welcome new Republicans. (Enough here to swing races).

Republican “Stronghold” District 2 Hard Hit

% Change in Precinct Republicans (Adjusted for Voter Growth)

-20% -10% 0% 10% 20% Republican Registration – D2 (July 2019 – March 2020) Decline (raw number) (5.7%) Voter Growth – D2 1.8% Decline (Adjusted) (7.5%)

Democrat Registration – D2 (July 2019 – March 2020) Increase (raw number) 12.2% Voter Growth – D2 1.8% Increase(adjusted) 10.4% R→Dre-registered 5.2% NPP→Dre-registered 8.1%

Republican registration declined by 5.7% in raw numbers, 7.5% adjusted for growth of voters. Democrats registered over 4,500 new D2 voters and captured significant NPP. 5.2% of Republicans re-registered Democrat. More Republicans purged than added. Net Republican switch to NPP.

5-C Registration Catastrophe Source: REGISTRATION Department of Elections Position in Freefall Democrats Per Republican (D/R) Blowout March 2020 Registration July 2019 Registration other other

D NPP D NPP 9.6x 4.4x 8.8x 5.0x

R 1x R 1x

The number of Democrats per Republican (D/R) in San Francisco rose to 9.6x from 8.8x, a shocking deterioration of the Republican position. One of the worst ratios in a major metropolitan area. The Party announced last summer Secretary of State approval to develop “drivers license swipe” automatic voter registration technology. (Not even the CAGOP had approval). What happened?

March 2020 Turnout other

November 2019 Turnout other

D 3.8x 3.8x D 13.0x NPP 9.5x NPP

R 1x R 1x

With little GOTV by the Republican Party, only 50.7% of Republicans turned out for the March 2020 election. But 71.2% of Democrats turned out, exploding the D/R ratio to 13.0x !!!

5-D Registration Catastrophe Source: Department of CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 12 Elections Surprising Republican Split

Republicans Defeated in Jungle Primary

Just 65.3% of Republicans supported the Dennis campaign. 21.9% of the remaining Republicans selected a Democrat, 18.7% voted for Pelosi. 2.0% of Democrats and 12.3% of (low-turnout/post-harvest) NPP voted for Dennis. Pelosi’s percentage of NPP greater than Dennis’ percentage of Republicans. Dennis spent Buttar’s 13,456 margin over Dennis greater than the entire Republican vote. $28.96 / vote. Buttar bested Dennis among NPP 7,031 to 6,556. Lorraine lost to Pelosi among Republicans. Not a factor in Dennis’ defeat.

Candidate Total % D % NPP % Minor % R % Pelosi X D 190,590 74.0 150,855 80.6 35,248 66.3 2,011 52.0 2,476 18.7 Buttar X D 33,344 13.0 25,682 13.7 7,031 13.2 467 12.1 164 1.2 Dennis R 19,883 7.7 3,805 2.0 6,556 12.3 873 22.6 8,649 65.3 Gallagher D 5,094 2.0 3,198 1.7 1,501 2.8 191 4.9 204 1.5 Lorraine R 4,635 1.8 1,005 0.5 1,717 3.2 215 5.6 1,698 12.8 Bacelar D 3,890 1.5 2,623 1.4 1,092 2.1 113 2.9 62 0.5 Total 257,436 100.0 187,168 100.0 53,145 100.0 3,870 100.0 13,253 100.0 first publicly available by-party tally based on a review of individual ballots.

% of Vote (Total and By Party)

John Dennis lost the March primary to Nancy Pelosi and Shahid Buttar, a progressive endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Since July 2019, Dennis has been Chair of the SFGOP,which endorsed him . He is Vice Chair of the Republican Leadership Counsel and a delegate to the 2020 Republican National Convention on behalf of President Donald Trump. Dennis has previously enjoyed a longstanding association with libertarian values and was endorsed for Congress in 2020 by Senator Rand Paul. He has suffered five defeats in San Francisco since 2010: four races for Congress and a bid for D2 Supervisor. Dennis is a San Francisco real estate investor.

6-A Surprising Republican Split Source: Department of CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 12 Elections Surprising Republican Split

Republican Divided, Democrats Unified — Precinct Level %

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 scale color same maps use

color coded color coded dennis % of republican pelosi % of democratic party vote by precinct party vote by precinct

Dennis (R Vote / R Turnout) Pelosi (D Vote / D Turnout) (65.3%) 8,649 of 13,253 Republicans 150,855 of 187,168 Democrats (80.6%) precinct distribution: dennis share of republican turnout v. pelosi share of democratic turnout Same data presented as Map and Distribution. 250

200

150 Dennis (R)

100 Pelosi (D)

50

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Dennis and Pelosi each faced same-party primary opposition. Pelosi united her party, Dennis didn’t. Buttar won 13.7% of Democrats. Lorraine 12.8% of Republicans. Similar impact on Pelosi and Dennis. Left “long tail” (red) reveals Republican dissatisfaction with Dennis in precincts across the city. Dennis polarized voting Republicans. More than half the Republicans he lost ...voted Democrat !!!

6-B Surprising Republican Split Source: Department of CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 12 Elections Surprising Republican Split

Pelosi Republicans color coded pelosi % of republican vote by precinct

Pelosi (R Vote / R Turnout) (18.7%) 2,476 of 13,253 Republicans 0 10 20 30 compares to: 40 dennis (R Vote / R Turnout) 50 (65.3%) 8,649 of 13,253 Republicans +

1 Pelosi Republican per 1 3 2 Dennis Republicans. precinct distribution: pelosi share of republican turnout Same data presented as Map and Distribution.

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Right “long tail” reveals significant Republican support for Pelosi in precincts across the City.

Fight Pelosi? Or struggle to win over Republicans who support her and other Democratic candidates? Anti-Pelosi rhetoric polls better with Republicans outside San Francisco. Will the Party play to conservative media or engage seriously in municipal politics?

Pelosi’s 18.7% of Republicans (+ other Democrats’ 3.2%) are ripe for Democratic Party re-registration. Small-tent Republicanism threatens over 20% of the Party’s active voters.

6-C Surprising Republican Split Source: Department of STATE OFFICES Elections State Senate D11 & Assembly D19

Candidate Total % D % NPP % Minor % R % Wiener X D 154,001 55.9 118,844 60.0 30,678 53.2 1,691 39.3 2,788 18.1 Fielder X D 92,141 33.5 72,482 36.6 17,385 30.1 1,420 33.0 854 5.5 Smith R 29,285 10.6 6,645 3.4 9,656 16.7 1,196 27.8 11,788 76.4 Total 275,427 100.0 197,971 100.0 57,719 100.0 4,307 100.0 15,430 100.0 first publicly available by-party tally based on a review of individual ballots.

% of Vote (Total and By Party)

First-time Republican candidates test the waters with little fundraising, promotion or earned media. Difficult in a “jungle primary” for such campaigns to win 2nd place, unless by default.

Republicans voting for Democrats, again, is striking. But Smith and McDonnell outperformed expectations with Democrats and No Party Preference voters, much better than Dennis.

Candidate Total % D % NPP % Minor % R % Ting X D 90,788 82.1 69,203 92.4 18,748 75.3 1,108 60.3 1,729 19.2 McDonnell X R 19,796 17.9 5,652 7.6 6,139 24.7 728 39.7 7,277 80.8 Total 110,584100.0 74,855 100.0 24,887 100.0 1,836 100.0 9,006 100.0 first publicly available by-party tally based on a review of individual ballots.

% of Vote (Total and By Party)

7-A Smith and McDonnell Outperform Source: Department of STATE OFFICES Elections State Senate District 11

Wiener Republicans color coded wiener % of republican vote by precinct

Wiener (R Vote / R Turnout) (18.1%) 2,788 of 15,430 Republicans 0 10 20 30 compares to: 40 smith (R Vote / R Turnout) 50 (76.4%) 11,788 of 15,430 Republicans +

1 Wiener Republican per 1 4 4 Smith Republicans. precinct distribution: weiner share Same data presented as Map and Distribution. of republican turnout 160

120

80

40

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Right “long tail” reveals significant Republican support for Wiener in precincts across the City.

Wiener’s signature issues are in the headlines: housing, homelessness, mental illness and drug abuse. The Republican Party declined formally to tackle SB50. Republican rhetoric on homelessness does not resonate with important blocks of voting Republicans. Frustrated delegates have gone outside the Party to sponsor topical ballot measures.

Wiener’s 18.1% of Republicans (+ 5.5% for Fielder) are ripe for Democratic Party re-registration.

7-B Smith and McDonnell Outperform Source: Department of STATE OFFICES Elections Assembly District 19

Ting Republicans color coded ting % of republican vote by precinct Ting (R Vote / R Turnout) (19.2%) 1,729 of 9,006 Republicans 0 10 20 compares to: 30 mcdonnell (R Vote / R Turnout) 40 (80.8%) 7,277 of 9,006 Republicans 50 +

1 Ting Republican per 1 4 5 McDonnell Republicans. precinct distribution: ting share Same data presented as Map and Distribution. of republican turnout

80

60

40

20

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Right “long tail” reveals significant Republican support for Ting in many District 19 precincts.

Ting stands as Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, legislating as a “resistance” progressive, environmentalist and tax enforcer. He proposed, for example, to ban new combustion engines after 2040 and terminate state contracts with companies supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Known as a tough San Francisco tax collector, as Assessor-Recorder under Mayor Newsom. Appealed to many Republicans. Environmentalism? Pro-immigration? NeverTrump? Tax law & order?

Ting’s 19.2% of Republicans are ripe for Democratic Party re-registration.

7-C Smith and McDonnell Outperform PROPOSITION D (March 2020)

Source: Department of Elections Retail Vacancy Tax

needed 2 ⁄3 to scale

FliptoNOAnalysis Remaining Description Votes Margin Swing Threshold (2⁄3) 185,538 - - Outcome 195,059 9,521 4,761 (R) YES ⇒ 4,237 1,048 ⇓ 524 (R) Skipped ⇒ 1,042 ⇓ 6 3 first publicly available by-party tally based (R) Nonvoters 16,254 Get Out The Vote on a review of individual ballots.

Position Total % D % NPP % Minor % R % YES X 195,059 70.1 152,820 76.2 35,524 61.4 2,478 57.6 4,237 27.0 NO 83,248 29.9 47,696 23.8 22,294 38.6 1,824 42.4 11,434 73.0 Total 278,307 100.0 200,516 100.0 57,818 100.0 4,302 100.0 15,671 100.0 Skipped 23,665 4.7 16,584 8.3 5,679 9.8 360 8.4 1,042 6.6 NonVoters 201,927 40.1 87,959 28.8 86,103 57.6 11,611 71.4 16,254 49.3 Registered 503,899 100.0 305,059 100.0 149,600 100.0 16,273 100.0 32,967 100.0

Although the Republican Party formally endorsed NO on D, little evidence of an active campaign. A media search and voter canvass identified a Party slate mailer with six words against D. Publicly available financial records show $250 from the Party toward third-party slate mailers.

With limited GOTV and advocacy by the Party, Republicans decided the race: YES on D. 4,237 Republicans (27%) voted YES, contributing 89.0% of the 4,761 deciding swing vote. 1,042 voters skipped the race — all but 6 votes of the remaining 1,048 margin, without higher turnout. 16,254 registered Republicans (49.3% ! ! ! ) did not vote, compared to 28.8% Democrat nonvoters.

Flipping some (R) votes and skips to NO, and marginally higher (R) turnout, defeats Proposition D.

Proposition D, a tax on vacant street-facing retail and commercial space, passed in March 2020, before the pandemic decimated the retail economy. The brainchild of District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, the tax begins in 2021, and rises each year of a continuing vacancy, from $250 to $1000 per foot. The intention is to tax landlord “vacancy speculation”. Proposition D has no end-date. City Hall cannot waive or repeal the tax without another ballot measure, even during an economic downturn.

8 Influence: Republicans Pass Retail Vacancy Tax SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE Source: Department of Elections Seat 21 to scale

FliptoSINGHAnalysis Remaining Description Votes Margin Swing Threshold 120,019 - - Outcome 121,026 1,007 504 (R) Gold ⇒ 4,015 (7,022) ⇓ (3,511) (R) Skipped ⇒ 4,391 ⇓ (11,413) (5,707) (R) Nonvoters 16,254 Get Out The Vote

Flip just one in eight Republican Gold votes and Singh wins. first publicly available by-party tally based on a review of individual ballots. Position Total % D % NPP % Minor % R % GOLD X 121,026 50.4 92,794 53.5 22,281 44.2 1,936 51.2 4,015 32.6 SINGH 119,011 49.6 80,724 46.5 28,134 55.8 1,846 48.8 8,307 67.4 Vote 240,037 100.0 173,518 100.0 50,415 100.0 3,782 100.0 12,322 100.0 Skipped 61,935 12.3 43,582 14.3 13,082 8.7 880 5.4 4,391 13.3 NonVoters 201,927 40.1 87,959 28.8 86,103 57.6 11,611 71.4 16,254 49.3 Registered 503,899 100.0 305,059 100.0 149,600 100.0 16,273 100.0 32,967 100.0

The Republican Party did not formally oppose Carolyn Gold, a progressive tenants’ rights attorney, or formally encourage Republicans to vote instead for Rani Singh, a veteran San Francisco prosecutor.

Republicans decided the race outright for Gold. 4,015 Republicans (32.6%) voted for Gold — swinging the race to its final 1,007 margin. More Republican voters skipped the race (4,391) than voted for Gold (4,015). 16,254 registered Republicans (49.3% ! ! ! ) did not vote, compared to 28.8% of Democrats.

Flipping some (R) votes, without skips or higher turnout, defeats Gold.

Carolyn Gold, a far-left progressive, won the March 2020 race for Superior Court Judge Seat 21. A graduate of Hastings, she is the first career tenant’s rights attorney to join the California judiciary. For 16 years, she was Supervising Attorney for Landlord/Tenant and Tort projects at the Justice and Diversity Center of the San Francisco Bar. Endorsements included Supervisors Ronen, Haney, Mandelman, Preston and Fewer, former State Senator Tom Ammiano and the SF Democratic Party.

9 Influence: Republicans Elect Gold EPILOGUE Future of the Party

At a critical time, the Republican Party failed to channel its influential swing voters — through education, guidance or GOTV – with tragic consequences for San Francisco.

Between July 2019 and March 2020, San Francisco Republicans elected Chesa Boudin, Dean Preston and Carolyn Gold, and passed the Uber/Lyft Tax and the Vacancy Tax.

Republican registration and turnout, relative to the Democratic Party, collapsed.

Many, if not all, of these outcomes could have been avoided with attention, strategic insight and realistic effort by the Republican Party. And frankly, more fundraising.

Voices in the Party have sought new directions and a Big Tent, and built infrastructure to register and inform San Francisco Republicans. Will they be respected or run out?

The rich political diversity of San Francisco Republicans must be heard and respected. One message, one voice, cannot unite voters. It might shrink the Party another 20%.

Freedom to critique, and to campaign publicly and privately among colleagues to change leadership or the direction of the Party, is fundamental to Republican values, even if it makes some nervous or uncomfortable. The right to express strongly held dissenting views is essential, particularly in San Francisco, to bring practical issues to light, sound the alarm during electoral and legislative emergencies, and grow the party.

The buck stops here means “I am responsible, there is no need to blame anyone else for this”. When you say the buck stops here, you take ownership. If you blame someone else, you pass the buck. Blaming others is easier and less painful. The problem is, when a leader blames someone else, it introduces blame into the language, into conversations. Blame infects the culture of the organization.

E Future of the Party