Yekutiel exits SF supervisor race after new assault allegations trigger mass endorsement withdrawal

Key points

• Yekutiel suspended his campaign on October 1, 2026, after The San Francisco Standard published new allegations of sexual assault at a 2023 Pride party.
• The new claims involve Yekutiel groping Ryan Clark and his partner, mirroring a 2020 allegation by Brad Chapin that Yekutiel had previously denied.
• Mayor Daniel Lurie and six city supervisors withdrew their endorsements within hours of the publication, along with labor unions and advocacy groups.
• Yekutiel stated he had no memory of the 2023 incident but apologized for any boundaries crossed, while maintaining his denial of the 2020 accusation.
• Gary McCoy, who formed an alliance with Darshini Patel, is now the presumed frontrunner in the District 8 race, with Michael Nguyen also remaining in the contest.

Background

Yekutiel had been the official pick of the San Francisco Democratic Party and Mayor Lurie since August 2026, despite a prior sexual assault allegation by Brad Chapin in June 2026. The city’s Democratic Party had scheduled an October 11 vote to reconsider its endorsement, which is now expected to be withdrawn. Yekutiel had raised over $500,000 and held $255,000 in public funding, significantly outpacing his nearest opponent, Gary McCoy.

How outlets are covering it

Mission Local reported that Yekutiel’s candidacy became untenable within hours of the new allegations, with most endorsers pulling support. The San Francisco Standard emphasized that the new allegations from Ryan Clark and his partner closely matched the 2020 claim by Brad Chapin, noting that Clark was motivated to come forward after seeing Lurie’s continued support for Yekutiel. The Standard also highlighted that Yekutiel’s allies had characterized the 2020 allegation as politically motivated, while the 2023 accusers lacked strong political allegiances. Both outlets confirmed that Yekutiel denied the specific 2023 incident but apologized for potentially crossing boundaries.

Why it matters

The rapid withdrawal of endorsements from high-profile figures like Mayor Lurie and city supervisors underscores the political consequences of sexual assault allegations in local elections. Yekutiel’s exit reshapes the District 8 race, elevating Gary McCoy as the frontrunner and highlighting the impact of media investigations on electoral outcomes. The case also raises questions about the standards for handling sexual assault allegations in political contexts, as seen in the differing responses to the 2020 and 2023 claims.

What to watch

The San Francisco Democratic Party is expected to formally withdraw its endorsement of Yekutiel at an October 11 vote. Gary McCoy, Darshini Patel, and Michael Nguyen will continue to compete for the District 8 supervisor seat. Yekutiel’s name will remain on the ballot as the deadline to withdraw had passed in June. The San Francisco Police Department had investigated the 2020 allegation but brought no charges, and no charges were filed for the 2023 incident.