Early Voting Opens in State Assembly Showdown Between Haney, Campos

Early voting for state Assembly District 17 is now open for San Franciscans who live on the east side of the city. 

The only race on this ballot is between District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney and former District 9 Supervisor David Campos, who are squaring off in a runoff election to replace David Chiu for the remainder of his Assembly term. David Chiu vacated the Assembly District 17 seat last year when he was appointed city attorney to replace Dennis Herrera, who is now leading the Public Utilities Commission. 

Voters can head to City Hall starting today to cast their ballots, or wait for a ballot in the mail and return it on or before Election Day on April 19. Voting at City Hall is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and during the two weekends leading up to Election Day. Anyone voting by mail can drop off their ballot in local mailboxes or at drop boxes located citywide. Voter registration for this election closes April 4. 

Campos and Haney clocked in as the top two out of four initial candidates in a February special election, but neither won the necessary 50% threshold to take the seat, triggering a runoff election. 

Haney edged out Campos in the primary with 36% of the vote to Campos’ 35%, while Bilal Mahmood and Thea Selby came in with 22% and 5% of the votes, respectively. Turnout for the February election was just 36%.

The ultimate winner will head to Sacramento to represent the east side of San Francisco in the state legislature, and will hold that seat for the remainder of Chiu’s term, which expires in January.  

To win a full two-year term, the winner of the April 19 runoff will have to run again in a November 8 general election. A primary for that election is scheduled for June 7.