District 8 Supervisor Race Sees New Donor Momentum
Gary McCoy gathers support as campaign activity ramps up across the city ahead of the November 3 election.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Elections
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District 8 supervisor candidate Gary McCoy is seeing a surge in donor support following the recent exit of Manny Yekutiel from the race. Meanwhile, a major independent expenditure continues to bolster Connie Chan’s citywide supervisor campaign with significant new funding.
Why it matters
The movement of high-profile donors and major financial contributions signals how the political landscape is shifting just weeks before the November 3 election. Voters are now weighing these late-breaking endorsements and resource allocations as they finalize their decisions for local representation.
Connie Chan’s campaign has utilized 100 paid staff to complete 1.9 million phone calls and knock on 64,000 doors since June, compared to a baseline of zero activity. The total financial support from Saikat Chakrabarti to Chan has now reached $475,000, including a $50,000 infusion last week.
The players
Gary McCoy
A candidate for the District 8 supervisor seat who is currently navigating shifts in donor and party support.
Connie Chan
A candidate for supervisor who has utilized a large, well-funded field operation to contact voters.
Saikat Chakrabarti
A significant donor who has contributed a total of $475,000 to Connie Chan's campaign.
Darshini Patel
A District 8 supervisor candidate who received a recent endorsement from Grow SF.
Manny Yekutiel
A former candidate for the District 8 supervisor seat whose withdrawal triggered a realignment of donor support.
The details
Gary McCoy, who has maintained 15 years of sobriety, has picked up momentum in the District 8 race after Manny Yekutiel withdrew. His campaign recently received support from notable figures including Eleni Kounalakis and Ron Conway, alongside an October 11 endorsement from the San Francisco Democratic Party. Separately, Connie Chan’s campaign continues its extensive field effort to identify supporters, while Darshini Patel secured an endorsement from Grow SF on October 12.
Timeline
June 2026: Campaign staff began calling and knocking on doors for Chan.
October 11, 2026: San Francisco Democratic Party endorsed Gary McCoy.
October 12, 2026: Grow SF endorsed Darshini Patel.
November 3, 2026: Election day.
Across the Bay
The current campaign finance activity follows the patterns set by the city's mandatory campaign disclosure and public financing requirements. These filings provide transparency into the late-stage shifts in support that frequently define the final weeks of San Francisco's supervisor races.
If you live in District 8, expect campaign outreach to intensify as candidates utilize remaining time to identify undecided voters. All San Francisco residents should prepare to cast their ballots on November 3.
The takeaway
Voters should keep an eye on how these final shifts in funding and party endorsements influence the remaining weeks of the campaign. Tracking the official endorsements listed by the Department of Elections can provide a clearer picture of where the race stands before you head to the polls.
Further reading
For a complete list of candidates and upcoming deadlines, check out the Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mission Local.
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