District 10 Candidates Form New Ranked-Choice Strategy
As J.R. Eppler reaches thousands of voters, he and DJ Brookter are aligning efforts to reshape the District 10 election.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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District 10 voters are seeing a push for door-to-door engagement as candidate J.R. Eppler works to reach thousands of households in the race to replace termed-out Supervisor Shamann Walton. Eppler has linked his campaign with DJ Brookter to form a coordinated strategy aimed at challenging well-funded opponents.
Why it matters
The race for District 10 is drawing sharp lines between traditional funding and community-based outreach as shifting demographics redefine the electorate. Residents face a choice between candidates with vastly different financial backing in an area that has seen its Black population drop from 28% in 2000 to 20% in 2020.
J.R. Eppler has knocked on over 1,000 doors and reached 3,075 households out of the 30,751 total in District 10 as of late October. It remains unclear how this reach will influence the final vote compared to candidates like Theo Ellington, who received $540,000 from a single donor.
The players
J.R. Eppler
A candidate for the District 10 Board of Supervisors seat focused on grassroots canvassing.
DJ Brookter
A fellow candidate in the District 10 race who has partnered with Eppler on a joint ranked-choice strategy.
Theo Ellington
A District 10 candidate who has received significant financial backing from Chris Larsen.
Shamann Walton
The current District 10 supervisor who is termed out of office.
The details
Eppler, who has lived in the city since 2007, is focusing on personal engagement across neighborhoods from Bayview-Hunters Point to Potrero Hill. He and fellow candidate DJ Brookter have launched a joint ranked-choice strategy to combat the influence of heavy outside spending. The next steps for voters involve evaluating these differing campaign approaches before they select a replacement for Supervisor Shamann Walton.
Timeline
2000: Black residents accounted for 28% of district voters.
2007: J.R. Eppler moved to San Francisco.
2020: Black residents accounted for 20% of district voters.
October 22, 2026: Eppler reached $181,777 in campaign funding.
Across the Bay
This race highlights the ongoing tension between candidates utilizing the city's public financing system and those supported by significant private donations. It follows a persistent citywide trend where local candidates must navigate the influence of large outside spending against grassroots organizing.
If you live in District 10, you may see candidates knocking on your door or leaving flyers as they target the district's 30,751 households. These interactions are part of the final push leading up to the election to fill the seat currently held by Supervisor Shamann Walton.
The takeaway
Voters should track how the joint ranked-choice strategy between Eppler and Brookter impacts the field in the final days of the campaign. Watch for how the high volume of outside funding in this race shapes the conversation on local priorities compared to traditional grassroots outreach.
Further reading
Follow the latest developments in local policy and election dynamics on our Civic Engagement page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mission Local.
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Does a candidate's personal door-to-door outreach influence whether you would vote for them?
