New election results released Thursday afternoon show slim margins for the contentious housing streamlining measure as a new wave of votes is counted. 

Proposition D, the mayor’s ballot measure to streamline approvals for affordable apartment buildings, lost a little ground and is still just short of the required majority with 49.56% of the vote. Its rival, the progressive-backed Prop. E, is still losing with 44.45% approval.

The warring ballot measures both take aim at evading the California Environmental Quality Act for qualifying affordable housing projects. But they’re supported by two different factions in the city: the YIMBYs, who want more of all types of housing, and the progressives, who want to prioritize affordable housing above all else. If both measures were to pass, the one with the most votes would win.

Prop. M, a vacancy tax backed by Supervisor Dean Preston, now looks headed for a slim victory with 52.57% of the vote. If it passes, the measure could generate up to $15.4 million per year by 2026, according to a report from the Controller’s Office. 

However, Prop. M is unlikely to result in much behavior change from landlords, such as lowering rent to fill units. Property owners appear more likely to pay the tax for the estimated empty 4,000 units in the city it would affect. 

The latest results in the city’s District 4 show challenger Joel Engardio with 51.71% of the vote, giving him a 3.4-point lead over incumbent Supervisor Gordon Mar’s. Engardio, whose campaign platform centered on public safety, was leading by almost 4 points as of Wednesday. 

Mar, a former labor union leader, is chasing reelection after serving on the Board of Supervisors since 2019. The race offers a typical split of city’s moderate-progressive camps and has the potential to reshape the makeup of the current Board of Supervisors.

Other notable stats announced Thursday include:

• There are now 137,000 ballots left to count (an increase from Tuesday, when the estimate was 104,000 uncounted ballots).
• That means 45% of the ballots remain uncounted.
• Total voter turnout is now 61%.

In the race for District Attorney, Brooke Jenkins declared victory earlier this week, although her opponent John Hamasaki has yet to concede. She, too, ran on a tough-on-crime message after being appointed by Mayor London Breed following the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. 

Altogether, Election Day appears to have been good for Mayor Breed, who oversaw many of the winning propositions and races, including her winning school board appointees and apparent victory for Matt Dorsey, whom she appointed earlier this year to take outgoing District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney’s place.

For a full breakdown of results, see The Standard’s Election Results Page.