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Manny Yekutiel suspends San Francisco supervisor campaign after second sexual assault allegation

Manny Yekutiel suspends San Francisco supervisor campaign after second sexual assault allegation

Rule Changes San Francisco, CA local

The District 8 front-runner's name stays on the November ballot as Mayor Daniel Lurie and other backers withdraw

Yesterday: Second allegation published; Yekutiel suspends campaign; Lurie withdraws endorsement

Overview

Updated Yesterday

Manny Yekutiel was the front-runner for San Francisco's District 8 supervisor seat, with endorsements from the mayor and top Democrats. On October 1, after a second on-the-record sexual assault allegation, he suspended his campaign and apologized for "any boundaries that I crossed."

His name stays on the November ballot because the withdrawal deadline passed in June. That leaves the race genuinely open and puts Mayor Daniel Lurie and the city's Democratic Party under scrutiny for how they handled the first allegation, which did not end his campaign.

Why it matters

The collapse of a front-runner leaves San Francisco's District 8 race open and puts the city's Democratic machine under scrutiny over misconduct vetting.

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Key Indicators

2
On-record accusers
Brad Chapin in June and Ryan Clark on Oct 1 both alleged groping by Yekutiel.
1
Campaign suspension
Yekutiel suspended his District 8 campaign on Oct 1.
33
Days until the November election
Yekutiel's name remains on the ballot despite his suspension.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

February 2020 October 2026

6 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Second allegation published; Yekutiel suspends campaign; Lurie withdraws endorsement

    Latest Political

    Ryan Clark's account appears in the Standard. Yekutiel suspends his campaign, and a wave of endorsers, led by Lurie, exit.

  2. Mayor Daniel Lurie endorses Yekutiel after speaking with him

    Political

    Lurie said Yekutiel denied the allegation and he believed him. The endorsement came months after Chapin's claim.

  3. San Francisco Standard publishes Chapin's on-record allegation

    Media

    Yekutiel denies the claim as a political hit. Some endorsers, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, rescind support.

  4. Yekutiel allegedly gropes Ryan Clark and his partner at a 2023 party

    Allegation

    Clark and his partner say Yekutiel aggressively groped them at a public party in 2023; the claim surfaces on Oct 1, 2026.

  5. Yekutiel allegedly gropes Brad Chapin at a house party

    Allegation

    Chapin says Yekutiel grabbed his genitals at a February 2020 party. The claim becomes public in June 2026.

Scenarios

1

Gary McCoy wins District 8 supervisor seat

Likely Resolves by Nov 17, 2026

Discussed by: Mission Local and San Francisco political observers see McCoy as the clear beneficiary.

With Yekutiel's campaign suspended and his name still on the ballot, the anti-Yekutiel vote consolidates behind McCoy, a former Nancy Pelosi aide. Yekutiel's supporters either stay home or shift to McCoy. The city certifies McCoy as the winner in November.

2

Manny Yekutiel wins District 8 despite suspension

Unlikely Resolves by Nov 17, 2026

Discussed by: A remote possibility noted by Mission Local, given his name remains on the ballot and his earlier front-runner status.

Yekutiel's name stays on the ballot with no mechanism to remove it. If his base remains loyal and the allegations fail to move enough voters, he could still top the field. That would create a political crisis for the Board of Supervisors and the mayor.

3

Police reopen an investigation into Yekutiel

Possible Resolves by Mar 1, 2027

Discussed by: Legal observers and local press, following Ryan Clark's on-record account.

The second on-record allegation, with a named accuser and contemporaneous written documentation, could prompt the San Francisco Police Department to reopen the inactive investigation from Chapin's case or open a new one. Any charges would require the district attorney to find sufficient evidence.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November-December 2017

Al Franken resignation (2017)

Radio host Leeann Tweeden accused Senator Al Franken of forcibly kissing and groping her during a 2006 USO tour. More than a week later, a former congressional aide went on the record saying Franken groped her during a 2010 photo op, with a photograph as evidence.

Then

Facing a wave of Senate colleagues demanding his resignation, Franken stepped down on December 7, 2017.

Now

The case became a reference point for how a single allegation can be survived but a second on-record accuser ends a political career.

Why this matters now

Yekutiel's first accuser in June did not end his campaign; the second, Ryan Clark, did — the same single-to-multiple accuser pattern.

November 2025

Beya Alcaraz appointment (2025)

Mayor Daniel Lurie appointed Beya Alcaraz to the District 4 supervisor seat. After reporting about her emerged within days, the appointment was curtailed after just eight days.

Then

Lurie publicly took responsibility and promised to "thoroughly review our vetting process."

Now

The episode became a reference point for vetting failures in Lurie's administration.

Why this matters now

Mission Local explicitly links the two, noting Lurie said he would learn from the Alcaraz failure before endorsing Yekutiel a year later.

Sources

(3)

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