San Francisco District 4 Recall Highlights Local Issues Over Partisan Divides

San Francisco, CA – Supervisor Joel Engardio of District 4, encompassing the Sunset neighborhood, is facing a special recall election on September 16, 2025, a development largely driven by community opposition to Proposition K, which transformed a segment of the Great Highway into a park. Despite a significant Democratic majority in the district, the recall effort underscores how local issues can transcend traditional partisan lines.

According to a recent social media post by Griffin (Griff) Lee, District 4 has a voter registration breakdown of 5,164 registered Republicans and 27,715 registered Democrats. Lee emphasized this point, stating, > "There are 5,164 registered Republicans and 27,715 registered Democrats in District 4. Joel Engardio’s district. Know your facts, Scott. Don’t blame Republicans on this one. This has little to nothing to do with Democrats vs Republicans." This highlights the local, non-partisan nature of the controversy.

The recall campaign gained momentum after the Department of Elections confirmed on May 29, 2025, that it had verified 10,523 valid signatures, exceeding the 9,911 required to trigger the election. While Proposition K passed citywide with 55% support, a substantial 64% of District 4 residents voted against it, indicating a strong local disconnect with the supervisor's stance.

Financially, the "Stop the Recall, Stand with Joel Engardio" campaign has amassed approximately $536,000, significantly more than the recall campaign's $161,000 as of early July. Major contributions to Engardio's defense include $175,000 from Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman and $100,000 each from Twilio co-founder John Wolthuis and Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, among others. In contrast, the recall campaign, described as "grassroots," relies on a broader base of smaller donors.

Political observers note that Engardio, who was elected in 2022 by a narrow margin, faces an uphill battle, as many of his initial supporters are now among those opposing him due to the Great Highway decision. The upcoming September election will be a critical test of how deeply local policy disputes can override established political affiliations in San Francisco.