Artwork / Simón Malvaez
This year, we will vote at the national and civic levels. I can't think of a more consequential election cycle in my lifetime, and how we cast our ballots will determine what happens not only in Washington, D.C., and our entire country but also in our proverbial "backyard" here in San Francisco.
With more at stake on the ballot this year than ever, voting is the most important thing you can do! Early voting starts at City Hall on October 7, the same day ballots are mailed to registered voters across the City. With that in mind, I am sharing my endorsements for the national, state, and local elections on November 5, 2024. If you haven't registered to vote, it's not too late. Visit www.vote.org for everything you need to know.
This is the first year that the Presidential and San Francisco Mayor elections are on the same ballot due to a recent ballot measure aligning these important elections to maximize turnout. I am proud to endorse the Harris/Walz ticket and will fight like hell to make sure that we get rid of Trump once and for all—and, critically, that we hold the President accountable to the needs of our communities at home and abroad.
If you are less inspired by some of these races, remember that we are building the pipeline of future leaders of the Democratic Party and our nation down to the most local elections. I believe that you should take as much pride in voting small. If you're disillusioned, I want you to feel empowered to make change from within our community.
We need each other. So, if you decide whether to vote this year, vote because your neighbor needs you to––because I need you to vote.
Finally, these recommendations are based on my many relationships with informed people. They also reflect my own personal experience as your Empress, your Favorite Drag Queen, a long-time philanthropist, and a decades-long rent-controlled tenant of this great City. If you don't believe me, I encourage you to educate yourself or use these other guides to contrast and compare your positions.
Every action, no matter how small, can make a difference. Remember, the democracy we want is up to us—we must choose, we must vote, and we must keep it queer.
Loads of Love, Juanita
Voting GUIDE Resources
This website displays state campaign finance data that is current through the 2024 election year.
Presidential & Mayoral Election
November 5, 2024
Federal Contests
President: Kamala Harris Do I think things will change if Vice-President Kamala Harris wins? Not 100%. However, I do believe things would be drastically worse if the other guy wins, and in ways that would significantly affect the lives of LGBTQIA+ Americans. Make no mistake: If Harris loses in her bid for the presidency, the reality of being queer in America will be devastating and ever more marginalized. I, for one, have fought too hard for the rights we've had to see them taken from us under a not-so-theoretical dictatorship.
Senate: Adam Schiff No endorsement by SF League of Pissed Off Voters & The Harvey Milk Club
US Representative District 11: Nancy Pelosi No endorsement SF League of Pissed Off Voters I cannot overlook the many great things Nancy Pelosi has done for the LGBTQIA+ community and our country throughout her career in politics.
United States Representative in Congress, District 15:Kevin Mullin No endorsement by SF League of Pissed Off Voters
State and Regional Contests
State Senate: Scott Wiener (LGBTQ+) No endorsement SF League of Pissed Off Voters & Harvey Milk Democratic Club. Scott has done some great things while in office for the LGBTQIA+ community. Including most recently helping to fund the GLBT Historical Society Museum.
State Assemblymember, District 17: Matt Haney Yes Harvey Milk Democratic Club / No SF Bay Guardian, SF League of Pissed Off Voters & Matt Haney, our incumbent State Assemblymember will get re-elected to this seat.
State Assemblymember, District 19:David Lee No endorsement SF League of Pissed Off Voters & SF Bay Guardian
California State Propositions, 2024
Prop 2: $10B Education Facilities Bond: Yes - Our schools and community colleges are outdated and need renovation. The California Teachers Association supports this proposition.
Prop 3: Marriage Equality: Yes - A yes vote will update the language in the California Constitution to reflect who can currently marry. There will be no changes to who can marry.
Prop 4: $10B Water Infrastructure and Parks Bond: Yes - California has been significantly affected by climate change, and Prop 4 will help conserve natural resources.
Prop 5: Lower Voting Threshold to 55% for Housing and Infrastructure Bonds: Yes - San Francisco needs more affordable housing and we need less barriers.
Prop 6: Abolish Slavery in CA Prisons: Yes - The most critical message here is that State Prisons will not be able to discipline people in prison who do not want to work.
Prop 32: Raise the Minimum Wage: Yes - The California Restaurant Association and I agree to raise the minimum wage. It would be $18 an hour in 2026 and go up yearly.
Prop 33: Allow Local Governments to Expand Rent Control: Yes - I could not live in San Francisco without rent control. A yes vote means the State law would not limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties should have.
Prop 34: Attack on AIDS Healthcare Foundation: No—Certain healthcare establishments would have to follow new rules on spending income earned from federal drug discount programs. A no vote would prevent the new rules from going into effect.
Prop 35: Extend Funding for Medi-Cal: Yes - Our Medi-Cal recipients deserve permanent funding for their healthcare services.
Prop 36 - Allows felony charges & increases sentences for misdemeanors: No
San Francisco Local Offices
Mayor: Aaron Peskin Aaron Peskin, the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is an effective leader who works for the city's diverse communities because he understands them and is active within them — he listens and acts with context. When he speaks, it is about his experiences, both personal and political, and how they would help lead San Francisco toward its own recovery. Expanding rent control protections, low-income subsidies for seniors and families, and increased access to child care are all issues near to him and ones that should be for all of us.
San Francisco District Supervisors
Supervisor, District 1: Connie Chan
Supervisor, District 3: #1 Sharon Lai, #2 Moe Jamil
Supervisor, District 5: Dean Preston
Supervisor, District 7: Myrna Melgar
Supervisor, District 9: #1 Stephen Torres (LGBTQ+) Queer Latino family member who is a tested, true leader #2 Jackie Fielder (LGBTQ+)
Supervisor, District 11: #1 Chyanne Chen, #2 Ernest "EJ" Jones
District Attorney: Ryan Khojasteh
City Attorney: David Chiu No endorsement SF League of Pissed Off Voters & Harvey Milk Democratic Club
Sheriff: Michael Juan No endorsement SF League of Pissed Off Voters & Harvey Milk Democratic Club
Treasurer: Jose Cisneros (LGBTQ+)
Board of Education
SFUSD Board of Education: Matt Alexander, Virginia Cheung, Jaime Huling (LGBTQ+)
City College Board of Trustees: Alan Wong
BART
BART Board Director, District 7: Victor Flores
BART Board Director, District 9: Edward Wright (LGBTQ+) I’ve worked with Edward. I know firsthand how talented and tenacious he is––and how deeply he cares about this city and our community.
Local Propositions
Prop A: School Improvement & Safety Bond: Yes - We want to improve, repair, and upgrade School District sites and build new facilities.
Prop B: Community Health Infrastructure and Parks Bond: Yes - We want funding for community health and medical facilities, street safety, public spaces, and housing to help reduce family homelessness.
Prop C: Create Inspector General to Combat Corruption: Yes - "It's time we stop relying on the FBI to uncover systemic corruption and start cleaning up our own house," Aaron Peskin
Prop D: Stop City Oversight Commissions: No - I do not want any mayor to have the power to appoint and remove SF department heads or give a police chief the authority to adopt rules governing police officer conduct!
Prop E: Create a Task Force for City Commissions: Yes—Connected to Prop D, this would offer a more transparent process for our government's accountability.
Prop F: Staffing & Deferred Retirement for Police: Yes— This is a temporary bridge to retain 50 veteran officers for less money than the millions we are spending in overtime.
Prop G: Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families: Yes—This funding helps house seniors on a fixed-income, adults with disabilities and working families who aren’t homeless but STILL don’t make enough money to qualify for our affordable housing.
Prop H: Retirement benefits for Firefighters: Yes—As a cancer survivor, I support our firefighters retiring with full benefits at an earlier age.
Prop I: Retirement Benefits for Nurses and 911 Operators: Yes - Our city needs more nurses and 911 operators, and this would help attract more people to those positions.
Prop J: Funding for Children, Youth, and SFUSD: Yes - Let's ensure funds from previous voter-approved measures are spent effectively.
Prop K: Parkway at Great Highway: Yes - I believe we are ready for an oceanside park.
Prop L: Taxing Transportation Companies to SF Fund Muni: Yes - I prefer a car-ride home on my late-nights, but SF Muni is critical to keeping our city moving.
Prop M: Tax Relief for Small Businesses: Yes - This revenue-neutral proposition will provide tax relief to more than 2,700 small businesses.
Prop N: First Responder Student Loan Forgiveness Fund: No - Let's not use our taxpayer monies to pay off personal debts.
Prop O: Reproductive Freedom in San Francisco: Yes - Let's protect anyone seeking an abortion the freedom to do so.