San Francisco is experiencing a noticeable shift towards the political center, with Mayor Daniel Lurie and his moderate allies establishing a robust political apparatus. This centrist movement appears to be resonating with residents who express weariness over the city's struggles with crime, homelessness, and retail theft.

A key entity driving this agenda is Believe in SF, a nonprofit advocacy group that has become a significant financial force. Its associated Political Action Committee (PAC) recently raised nearly $1.8 million to support Lurie's preferred candidates and ballot measures in the city's June primary elections, a development Politico described as the formation of a "political machine."

The impact of this strategy was evident in recent supervisor elections, where two moderate candidates, Alan Wong and Stephen Sherrill, secured victories with substantial margins. Simultaneously, a union-backed ballot measure that would have increased taxes on large corporations, and which Lurie actively opposed, was overwhelmingly rejected by voters.

This surge in moderate political spending is aimed at curtailing the influence of progressives in city governance. Organizations like Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, which receives backing from the business and tech sectors, have allocated millions of dollars to local races in an effort to steer the city toward a more centrist course.

Mayor Lurie, a moderate Democrat and heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, was elected in 2024, defeating incumbent London Breed. His election followed a period where voters expressed dissatisfaction with policies perceived as lenient on crime, retail theft, drug markets, and homelessness, issues critics linked to a decline in the city's quality of life. Recent polling from the San Francisco Chronicle indicates Lurie holds a 74% approval rating, with voters showing optimism about downtown revitalization and neighborhood improvements.

The shift in the city's political landscape has led to significant gains for moderate candidates in supervisor elections, unseating progressive incumbents. This trend has solidified Lurie's standing, with his high approval rating reflecting the city's pivot toward the political center.