The race to become the next supervisor of San Francisco’s District 6 is heating up, with longtime political activist Honey Mahogany saying she’ll challenge incumbent mayoral appointee Matt Dorsey.
Mahogany—who chairs the local Democratic Party and has national name recognition for her appearances on the TV show RuPaul's Drag Race—would become the first openly transgender supervisor if she wins.
“I love San Francisco, but it is facing big problems,” Mahogany wrote in a social media post announcing her candidacy. “We need a big tent, progressive vision that unites rather than divides.”
The supervisor seat was left vacant when Supervisor Matt Haney won the state Assembly race in April and left for Sacramento. Mayor London Breed then appointed Dorsey in early May. Mahogany was Haney’s legislative staff for years.
Dorsey, a former police spokesperson, said he welcomes the competition.
“I’m a big-D Democrat, but I’m a small-d democrat first,” he told The Standard. “I think voters are always better served by competitive elections. I look forward to making my case for a District 6 that’s safer, cleaner and more equitable.”
Mahogany’s entry into the race may signal a new round of battles between the city’s progressive and moderate camps, which have been warring over how to tackle housing, homelessness and drug use—all of which rank among the top priorities for both Dorsey and Mahogany.
The newly redistricted D6 includes SoMa, Mission Bay, East Cut and Treasure Island. The Tenderloin is now in District 5. According to the Department of Elections, other candidates include Ms. Billie Cooper, Ali Ahmed, Pearci Bastiany, Cherelle Jackson and Tommie Lussier.