Gay state Senator Scott Wiener was on the losing end after the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club rescinded its earlier endorsement for his reelection. The club also elected a new president as it works to recover from an apparently tainted endorsement process that was recently discovered.
Gary McCoy, a gay man, was selected as the club's new president. Previous club leader Jeffrey Kwong, a gay man, stepped down after the club discovered the potentially fraudulent endorsement votes, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported.
The "potentially fraudulent" result of an earlier endorsement vote was to continue to endorse Wiener, who four years ago saw the Milk club endorse his queer opponent. Since then, the moderate lawmaker's pro-housing push in the state Legislature has attracted strong opposition from progressive leaders in the city who contend it favors market-rate housing instead of affordable units. He had also faced withering criticism from progressives due to his support of Israel as it waged retaliatory strikes against Hamas in Gaza.
Asked why the club decided to rescind the endorsement of Wiener, McCoy stated he "wasn't able to make the meeting where the motion to rescind was made [b]y a member," by which he meant another meeting where the matter was initially brought up and debated. (McCoy was at the September 7 meeting where he was elected president.)
Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, is being challenged this year by a Republican who espouses anti-transgender policies and refers to gender identity as "gender confusion." He issued a lengthy statement after the Milk club's September 7 vote, in which he stated that he was "grateful" to have earned its endorsement last October.
"I'm extremely grateful to the super-majority of Milk club members who voted to endorse me nearly a year ago, and I'm grateful to the members who continued to support me through the multiple re-votes on my endorsement instigated by people who never got over the fact that the club endorsed me," he stated. "While I was proud to receive the Milk club's endorsement, the reality is that I've won all of my campaigns for supervisor and senator without the Milk club's endorsement, and I'll do so again this year."
Supporters of Wiener have pointed out that his positions on housing and on the war in Gaza, while at odds with some of the club's membership, mirror those of federal lawmakers the club is endorsing this year. Notably, his position on the Gaza conflict advocating for a ceasefire and hostage deal is indistinguishable from politicians the club continues to endorse, including Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), and Congressmember Kevin Mullin (D-San Mateo/San Francisco).
Harris announced "we will end America's housing shortage" during her speech to the Democratic National Convention last month, joining other top Democrats in emphasizing housing construction this election cycle.
Continuing his statement, Wiener touted his legislative victories on LGBTQ matters.
"I'm enormously proud of my record winning tough fights to secure new protections for LGBTQ people — particularly for transgender youth — and to pass nation-leading progressive laws to tackle the climate crisis, expand access to mental healthcare, and build the affordable housing we so desperately need," he stated. "That record is the same today as it was nearly a year ago when the Milk club voted to endorse me, and the bizarre and tragic election interference and the club's recent chaotic re-endorsement process doesn't change that record of delivering for our community."
Another gay candidate who is no longer endorsed is Luis Zamora, who is running for one of the four seats on the San Francisco Community College District Board of Trustees. Zamora was appointed and sworn in by Mayor London Breed to fill a vacancy on the college board September 10. Previously, the club had announced an endorsement of his candidacy and that of college board president Alan Wong, whose nod by Milk was not impacted by the fraudulent voting investigation.
"I was disappointed that myself and so many other trusted leaders had their endorsements rescinded, but I respect Milk's process and am focused on continuing to share my resonating vision for City College with the voters leading up to November," Zamora stated.
McCoy, the new Milk club president, is a longtime gay activist who served as an aide to Pelosi when she was House speaker and is currently vice president of policy and public affairs at HealthRIGHT 360. He will finish Kwong's term, which runs through January.
McCoy stated to the B.A.R. September 9 that the club will "begin the work of improving our internal processes so that future endorsements aren't compromised."
"I appreciate the time so many folks took out of their day Saturday to engage in our process to ensure the highest level of integrity and transparency of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club," he stated. "Now we can move full steam ahead for our positions on the November ballot. ... We have a ton of work ahead, but I'm confident in the dedication of our board and members to see us through."
He had told the B.A.R. last week as the club's vice president of communications that an investigation led by attorney Scott Emblidge of Moscone Emblidge and Rubens was ongoing, and reiterated that the goal is to have a report on what exactly happened to compromise the integrity of the club's previously stated endorsements in a month.
New votes taken
At the special meeting, the club took new votes on the races where the endorsements were potentially fraudulent, which notably did not include the club's endorsement of the Harris-Tim Walz presidential ticket, after the club had un-endorsed President Joe Biden's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year over his handling of the war in Gaza. (That endorsement was for the primary only, and club officials said at the time that they could endorse for president in the November general election.)
In the U.S. Senate race, the club had announced an endorsement of Congressmember Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), who is the only Democrat running in the November election. On September 7, the club voted to make no endorsement in this race.
In the race for San Francisco city attorney, the club had announced an endorsement of incumbent David Chiu for reelection. On September 7, the club voted to make no endorsement in this race.
In the race for four seats on the San Francisco Board of Education, the club had announced endorsements of Virginia Cheung, Jaime Huling, and current school board member Matt Alexander. On September 7, the club voted not to endorse Cheung and Huling; its endorsement of Alexander wasn't impacted by the voting fraud issues.
On Proposition F, which deals with police staffing and deferred retirement, the club had announced it made no endorsement. On September 7, the club voted to oppose the measure.
On Proposition K, to close the Great Highway to vehicle traffic and create a park, the club had announced it made no endorsement. On September 7, the club voted to endorse the measure.
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