The one-two strategy in SF's District Six supervisor race gets money behind it
Matier & Ross
1of3Board of Supervisors District 6 candidate Christine Johnson meets with the Chronicle editorial board in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018.Paul Chinn/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
2of3Board of Supervisors District 6 candidate Sonja Trauss meets with the Chronicle editorial board in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018.Paul Chinn / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
3of3Board of Supervisors District 6 candidate Matt Haney meets with the Chronicle editorial board in San Francisco, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018.Paul Chinn/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
Mayor London Breed's allies are taking a page out of the playbook her mayoral opponents used — launching a "tag team" ad campaign urging voters to cast ballots for two candidates running for the seat held by soon-to-be-termed-out Supervisor Jane Kim.
The move mirrors the "one-two" ranked choice approach used by Kim and former state Sen. Mark Leno in their unsuccessful bid to knock out the moderate Breed in the June race for mayor.
In this case, the race features two moderate candidates — Christine Johnson and Sonja Trauss — against progressive-backed candidate Matt Haney.
If either Johnson or Trauss prevails over Haney, it will deny the progressives a majority control of the board.
So starting Monday, San Franciscans for Change — funded by the same business, labor and tech PAC that supported Breed for mayor — will drop $100,000 into a cable TV ad pushing the "two choices for change" slate.
Meanwhile, Progress San Francisco PAC is about to report a $250,000 contribution it received just days ago from the SEIU-UHW labor union — so even more TV money appears to be on the way.
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The TV ad was put together by SCN Strategies, the same consultants who ran Leno's unsuccessful mayoral campaign and who also came up with the losing Leno-Kim tag-team approach.
"This is the ideal scenario for a top-two strategy to succeed — a clear demarcation between two accomplished women running on a change message with support from the popular new mayor," SCN's Dan Newman said.
Haney doesn't think it will work, noting that he has broad support, including endorsements from Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Kamala Harris.
"They think by dumping a bunch of money and teaming up they can push through in the last minute, but we have already talked to tens of thousands of voters and are focusing on things that matter," he said. "And that's how this race is going to be decided."
San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415- 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
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Whether writing about politics or personalities, Phil Matier and Andy Ross informed and entertained readers for more than two decades about the always fascinating Bay Area and beyond. Their blend of scoops, insights and investigative reporting was found every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Phil is also a regular on KPIX TV and KCBS radio.