Leno Victory Marks New Era in SF PoliticsPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jun. 04‚ 2008Typically, a State Senate race with a North Bay moderate against two S.F. progressives would assure that – once again – the Left snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. But Mark Leno’s blowout victory last night proved that he is not a typical politician, and his broad appeal gives progressives a rare opportunity to forge a new winning coalition. San Francisco’s Left mourned the defeat last night of Proposition F (Bayview affordable housing) and the passage of Proposition G (Lennar’s plan for Hunters Point.) But Leno’s coalition of progressives and liberals gave public power advocates a win with Proposition E, and moderate support for a school parcel tax (Proposition A) made its 70-30 victory possible. To be sure, Chris Daly’s leadership helped elect a Democratic County Central Committee that will be the most progressive in recent memory. But as progressives move beyond June 2008, the lesson from this election was clear: we gain power by forming coalitions with allies, rather than engaging in sectarian firing squads. |