Breed has been a major player in local politics since joining the Board of Supervisors in 2013. Four years later, when Mayor Ed Lee died suddenly, Breed took over as interim mayor and won a special election to remain mayor in 2018.
She first entered the world of local government as an intern for Mayor Willie Brown. In 1999, she worked on his re-election campaign. The two remain friends to this day.
A San Francisco native, Breed grew up in the Western Addition neighborhood. She has spoken often of her hardscrabble upbringing and the scourge of poverty in the city.
As mayor, Breed championed housing construction, winning support from YIMBYs like state Sen. Scott Wiener. She has not said what she will do after leaving City Hall.
From left, David Campos, London Breed, and David Chiu take the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 8, 2013. | Source: Paul Chinn/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
City Attorney Dennis Herrera gestures toward Board of Supervisors President London Breed after announcing a settlement agreement on short-term rentals in a May 2017 news conference. | Source: Eric Risberg/AP Photo
Breed meets with members of the United Playaz to promote a gun buyback program in 2017. | Source: Michael Macor/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Mayor Ed Lee and Breed arrive at City Hall in 2017. | Source: Paul Chinn/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed speaks at a news conference after Mayor Ed Lee's death in December 2017. | Source: Paul Chinn/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed joins a community candlelight vigil in honor of Lee. | Source: Michael Macor/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed speaks to supporters during an election night party in 2018. | Source: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo
Governor Gavin Newsom swears in Mayor-elect London Breed as she takes her oath of office outside City Hall on July 11, 2018. | Source: Gabrielle Lurie/Pool/Getty Images
Breed talks with a homeless man on Castro Street in 2018. | Source: Liz Hafalia/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed speaks at a 2019 press conference announcing the appointment of Suzy Loftus, left, as interim district attorney. | Source: Lea Suzuki/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed joins Golden State Warriors executives and Gov. Gavin Newsom for a ribbon-cutting event at the Chase Center's opening ceremony in 2019. | Source: Gabrielle Lurie/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
San Francisco police chief Bill Scott looks on as Breed speaks during a news conference at the future site of a homeless shelter in 2020. | Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Breed takes a knee in honor of George Floyd at City Hall in June 2020. | Source: Santiago Mejia/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed takes the oath of office in 2020. | Source: Liz Hafalia/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed speaks alongside healthcare leaders to announce the opening of a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Moscone South in 2021. | Source: Jessica Christian/SF Chronicle/Getty Images
Breed listens to SFPD Chief Bill Scott during a press conference in 2022. | Source: Camille Cohen/The Standard
Breed speaks at a rally marking the anniversary of the fatal attack on an 84-year-old Thai grandfather Vicha Ratanapakdee in 2022. | Source: Ekevara Kitpowsong for The Standard
An Urban Alchemy worker patrols a homeless tent village near City Hall. | Source: Melina Mara/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Breed tours a room the 711 Post St. shelter, which was repurposed as a shelter for homeless residents. | Source: Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard
Chesa Boudin was elected San Francisco District Attorney in November 2019, defeating Mayor Breed-appointed Interim District Attorney Suzy Loftus by a razor-thin margin in a ranked-choice voting contest. Boudin was later recalled by San Francisco voters with 55% of voters supporting his removal. | Source: Camille Cohen/The Standard ; Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Breed joins members of the NorCal Carpenters Union during an Affordable Homes Now Rally in the Tenderloin in 2022. | Source: Eloïse Kelsey for The Standard
Breed announces her appointment of Brooke Jenkins as the city's new district attorney following Boudin's recall in 2022. | Source: Paul Kuroda for The Standard
Breed speaks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as they tour the city's long-delayed Central Subway project in 2022. | Source: Yalonda M. James/SF Chronicle/POOL
Breed sheds a tear during a 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting at United Nations Plaza as city leaders discussed the city's drug crisis. | Source: Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard
Breed is interviewed at her City Hall office in 2023. | Source: Noah Berger for The Standard
Breed takes part in a demonstration advocating for homeless encampment sweeps outside the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in August 2023. | Source: Jeremy Chen/The Standard
Breed discusses the upcoming APEC summit at a news conference in October 2023. | Source: Michaela Vatcheva for The Standard
Breed celebrates a 49ers field goal at a 2024 Super Bowl watch party at HiTops in the Castro District. | Source: Estefany Gonzalez/The Standard
Breed speaks to voters at the blue Painted Lady house in Alamo Square in July. | Source: Jason Henry for The Standard
Breed announces her reelection campaign in May. | Source: Camille Cohen for The Standard
Breed answers a question during a mayoral debate at UC Law in San Francisco in June. | Source: Adahlia Cole for The Standard
Breed speaks to supporters at Victory Hall on Tuesday. | Source: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The Standard
Breed delivers her concession speech Thursday. | Source: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The Standard
Source: Jason Henry for The Standard
Breed’s official portrait painted by Elaine Badgley Arnoux is seen in Room 200 at City Hall. | Source: Jason Henry for The Standard