In recent years, the city of San Francisco has been struggling on many fronts including crime, homelessness, and public safety.
Some argue the Covid-19 pandemic overshadowed focus on city issues; some say that new power needs to be elected into office.
On election day — Nov. 5, voters cast their ballots for the future of the United States on a congressional, state and local level.
In San Francisco, voters decided on mayor, supervisors, sheriff, and district attorney, ultimately choosing incumbent Brooke Jenkins over Ryan Khojasteh, with Jenkins securing a decisive win.
Voting results quickly flooded in after election day, showing immediate favor for Jenkins, who secured reelection as the 31st San Francisco District Attorney, with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Khojasteh, who received just over 34 percent.
Jenkins, who assumed office in 2022 following the recall of Chesa Boudin, has positioned herself as a stronger and eminent leader focused on public safety and crime reduction, in contrast to Boudin’s controversial and progressive policies that led to his recall.
Khojasteh, a former assistant District Attorney, criticized his firing as abrupt, saying, “I was on vacation at a family wedding. She just called and fired me from my job with no explanation.”
This tension fueled the 2024 race, with Khojasteh challenging Jenkins’ position for the District Attorney role. Ultimately, Jenkins pulled forward with a win.
In an interview via email Jenkins commented, “Although there have been some staff transitions, the transitions have not impacted services to victims of crime or prosecutions.”
A Bay Area native of Black and Latina heritage, Jenkins began her career in 2014 as a prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s office. She worked in several specialized units, some including hate crimes and sexual assault, before leaving in 2021 over dissatisfaction with Boudin’s leadership, according to public reports.
After the recall, Jenkins assumed office as interim District Attorney, returning to focus on reducing crime in the city, which she has claimed dropped by 32 percent during her first term.
Jenkins said, “Our office has made tremendous strides in restoring the public’s faith and confidence in the prosecutor’s office. We believe in fair and ethical prosecutions and will always follow the law and evidence in our charging decisions. No one is above the law.”
Despite challenges, Jenkins received endorsements from prominent figures like Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Scott Wiener, and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, which helped solidify her political support.
As she begins her second term, Jenkins will continue to navigate the ongoing challenge of balancing her crime and public safety agenda while also resolving internal staff issues.
Her reelection reflects strong support for her approach to crime but it also leaves open questions about the future of her office’s internal stability and overall effectiveness in tackling key issues in San Francisco.
Jenkins continued, “Although, San Francisco Police data shows crime rates are trending down in almost all categories of crime across the city, we understand and recognize that there is still much more work to be done.”
As voters cast their ballots this year, many hoped that the results of this election and others not only ran smoothly, but contributed to the overall betterment of the city of San Francisco.
