What Is 28th Mayor of San Francisco

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: Daniel Lurie is the 28th mayor of San Francisco, taking office on January 9, 2025, after winning the November 2024 election. He succeeded London Breed, the city's first Black female mayor, who served from 2018 to 2025.

Key Facts

Daniel Lurie became mayor on January 9, 2025, following the 2024 mayoral election
He won with approximately 52% of the vote against London Breed
Lurie is a political newcomer and former nonprofit executive
San Francisco mayors serve four-year terms, limited to two consecutive
The city has had 45 mayoral terms due to multiple non-consecutive terms by some individuals

Overview

The 28th mayor of San Francisco is Daniel Lurie, a civic leader and former CEO of the Tipping Point Community, a nonprofit focused on poverty alleviation. He assumed office on January 9, 2025, after defeating incumbent London Breed in the November 2024 mayoral election, marking a shift toward reform-minded leadership amid ongoing city challenges.

San Francisco's mayoral history reflects its evolving political and social landscape, with the 28th position being a milestone in the city's governance. Lurie’s election is notable for being the first time a non-career politician from a prominent civic background won the mayoral race in over a decade.

Term Start: Daniel Lurie officially began his term as mayor on January 9, 2025, following certification of the November 5, 2024, election results.
Political Background: Unlike most predecessors, Lurie had no prior elected experience, positioning himself as an outsider committed to reform and transparency.
Election Margin: He won the race with approximately 52% of the vote, defeating London Breed, who received about 48% in the ranked-choice voting system.
Historical Context: The 28th mayoral seat reflects 45 total mayoral terms due to repeat tenures, including Dianne Feinstein’s two non-consecutive terms.
Public Service Roots: Before running, Lurie was known for his work with Tipping Point Community, where he led anti-poverty initiatives across the Bay Area.

How It Works

The role of San Francisco’s mayor is defined by the city charter, outlining term length, election procedures, and responsibilities. As a strong mayor system, the officeholder wields significant executive power over city departments, budget proposals, and policy direction.

Term: Mayors serve a four-year term with a limit of two consecutive terms. After a break, a former mayor can run again, as seen with Dianne Feinstein.
Election Method: The city uses ranked-choice voting (RCV), allowing voters to rank up to 10 candidates, which determines winners if no one secures a majority in the first round.
Succession: If the mayor resigns or is removed, the President of the Board of Supervisors becomes acting mayor, as occurred when London Breed ascended in 2018.
Duties: The mayor submits the city budget—over $14 billion in FY 2024—to the Board of Supervisors and oversees departments like Public Works and Police.
Accountability: The mayor is subject to oversight by the Board of Supervisors, which can approve, modify, or reject key appointments and initiatives.
Residence: The official mayor’s residence is the Mayor’s Mansion at 3030 Highland Avenue, though not all mayors have lived there during their tenure.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 27th and 28th mayors of San Francisco across key leadership metrics.

Mayor	Term Years	Party Affiliation	Major Issues	Background
London Breed	2018–2025	Democratic	Homelessness, public safety	Civic leader, first Black woman mayor
Daniel Lurie	2025–present	Democratic	Housing, transparency, governance reform	Nonprofit executive, political newcomer
Ed Lee	2011–2018	Democratic	Tech boom, housing crisis	City attorney, first Asian American mayor
Mark Farrell	2018 (interim)	Democratic	Transitional leadership	Supervisor, tech-friendly policy
Dianne Feinstein	1978–1988	Democratic	Post-Moscone recovery, urban development	First woman mayor, later U.S. Senator

This table highlights the transition from experienced politicians to reform-focused leaders. Lurie’s lack of prior office contrasts with Breed’s decade in city government, signaling voter desire for change amid persistent urban challenges.

Why It Matters

The identity and policies of San Francisco’s 28th mayor have broad implications for housing, public safety, and civic trust. Lurie’s administration has pledged to streamline bureaucracy and increase affordable housing production, addressing long-standing concerns.

Homelessness Strategy: Lurie plans to convert 1,000 vacant units into shelters or supportive housing within his first two years in office.
Police Reform: He supports increased officer accountability and community policing models to rebuild public trust.
Fiscal Transparency: His platform includes real-time budget dashboards to improve public access to city spending data.
Tech Collaboration: Lurie aims to partner with Silicon Valley firms on digital government services and innovation grants.
Climate Goals: He has committed to carbon neutrality by 2040, accelerating the city’s existing sustainability roadmap.
Education Access: Lurie supports expanding universal pre-K programs citywide by 2027, building on prior initiatives.

As San Francisco navigates economic shifts and demographic changes, the 28th mayor’s leadership could redefine how progressive cities balance growth, equity, and governance.