San Francisco

blue

Axios San Francisco Partners

San Francisco Alerts

Alert

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting San Francisco.

Axios San Francisco Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Get smarter, faster on what matters in San Francisco with Nadia Lopez and Shawna Chen.

Axios San Francisco

Standard

San Francisco Members

Membership

The June 2 primary is coming up and California voters have a lot to decide.

Why it matters: More than a dozen statewide elections will alter the political landscape in the Golden State, from the crowded governor's race to the consequential campaign for insurance commissioner.

The top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation. (For a full list of candidates, check out California's official voter information guide.)

✍️ Governor: The wide field of candidates (61 in total!) to replace Gavin Newsom, who is terming out, includes San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Biden administration official Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, Republican political commentator Steve Hilton, billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer and more.

Democrats Eric Swalwell and Betty Yee have both dropped out but will appear on the ballot.

💼 Lieutenant governor: From state treasurer Fiona Ma to Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero, 16 people are running to be the state's second-in-command.

🗳️ Secretary of state: Incumbent Shirley Weber is seeking reelection as California's chief election officer against three challengers — Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner and Green Party candidates Gary Blenner and Michael Feinstein.

💵 Controller: Responsible for tracking state funds and auditing agencies, incumbent Malia Cohen faces off against investment officer Herb Morgan and bus driver union leader Meghann Adams.

➕ Treasurer: The race to succeed Ma, who is termed out, features six candidates, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and state Sen. Anna Caballero.

⚖️ Attorney general: Republican Michael Gates and Green Party candidate Marjorie Mikels are campaigning to replace incumbent Rob Bonta, who has served as California's chief law officer since 2021.

🔨 Insurance commissioner: Whoever comes out on top in this crowded field will set the agenda for regulating and investigating insurance companies amid rising costs and climate-induced wildfire risk, succeeding termed-out Ricardo Lara. Candidates include former San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim and Republican insurance agent Stacy Korsgaden.

🍎 State superintendent of public instruction: This nonpartisan position oversees California's public school system. Ten candidates are in the running.

🌁 Two assembly members (District 17 or District 19): District 17 incumbent Matt Haney (representing downtown San Francisco) is unopposed, while District 19's Catherine Stefani (who serves the city's west side) faces off against Republican Philip Louis Wing.

🧑‍⚖️ Superior Court judge: San Francisco assistant district attorney Phoebe Maffei and deputy public defender Alexandra Pray are vying for the nonpartisan role, which serves on the trial court bench.

🧾 Board of Equalization member (District 2): Incumbent Sally Lieber, whose responsibilities include overseeing the state property tax system, is seeking reelection against four Republican challengers, as well as San Mateo County Community College District board member John Pimentel.

What's next: Return your ballot via U.S. Postal Service, put it in a drop-box or vote in person at a neighborhood polling place on Election Day.

You can also cast your ballot at the San Francisco City Hall Voting Center or the San Diego registrar's office, now open for early voting.

Your California voter guide for the June 2 primary

Here's what to know about the major races shaping statewide elections.

Illustration of the California State Capitol with lines radiating from it. 

The June 2 primary is coming up and California voters have a lot to decide.Why it matters: More than a dozen statewide elections will alter the political landscape in the Golden State, from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="crowded governor&#x27;s race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/13/eric-swalwell-drops-out-california-governor-race-scandal-democrats-open-field" data-vars-content-id="92c98540-7b58-4ce8-a931-b82c93aa2356" data-vars-headline="Your California voter guide for the June 2 primary" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/13/eric-swalwell-drops-out-california-governor-race-scandal-democrats-open-field" target="_self">crowded governor&#x27;s race</a> to the consequential campaign for insurance commissioner.

News

Election

It's Friday. You know what that means — it's time to test your knowledge.

The share of perfect scores rose to 33% last week. Keep them coming!

Send us your perfect score for a potential shoutout in next week's newsletter!

Raise your glass to SF's Friday news quiz

Test your knowledge of the city's news from the past week.

Illustration of a game-show-style board that spells "N_WS QUIZ."

It&#x27;s Friday. You know what that means — it&#x27;s time to test your knowledge.<ul><li>The share of perfect scores rose to 33% last week. Keep them coming!</li></ul>

Bust out the Kleenex. Ahead of this year's Mother's Day, we're going to share "1 big lesson" from our moms that still guides us. 

What Nadia learned: Empathy is a strength.

My mom always puts other people first. She leads with compassion and makes it her mission to make those around her feel cared for and supported. 

Hardship hasn't hardened her. If anything, life's difficulties have made her more thoughtful and empathetic toward others. 

Growing up, I watched her show love through quiet everyday acts: making sure everyone at the dinner table was fed before serving herself or dropping everything to help someone in need. 

My mom and I couldn't be any more different and mother-daughter relationships don't exist without their challenges. But through every disagreement and growing pain, I've never doubted her love. Her kindness is rare and being raised in that kindness is something I'm endlessly grateful for.

What Shawna learned: Resilience is your best weapon.

My family likes to say that our mom is all about getting from point A to point B, no matter what stands in the way. That mindset led her to move across the world at 22 to study chemical engineering in a completely new language and culture — and kept her going when she encountered hurdles such as loneliness, financial uncertainty and racism from coworkers.

She's modeled that same perseverance and quiet strength for me and my sisters our entire lives.

One particular memory stands out: The day I came home after being bullied in elementary school. That night, after tucking me in, she got on the phone and called around until she could schedule a few play dates for me with kids from other classes. Though I was reluctant at first, her encouragement led to friendships that are still going strong today.

She taught me that when you're grounded in who you are, obstacles don't matter. You just need to keep moving forward, and in doing so, you'll find your greatest potential. 

Lessons we learned from our mothers

Nadia and Shawna share what their moms taught them.

Split image: left, a dark-haired woman sits with a young girl at an indoors table by blinds; right, the same woman outdoors in a purple jacket holding a smiling baby in pink with a white hat near trees.

Lil' Nadia on her mom's arm, left, and baby bundle of joy Shawna with her mom. Photos: Nadia Lopez and Shawna Chen/Axios

Illustration of a mom tulip hugging a kid tulip bud. 

Bust out the Kleenex. Ahead of this year&#x27;s Mother&#x27;s Day, we&#x27;re going to share &quot;1 big lesson&quot; from our moms that still guides us. <ul><li>Turns out, they were right.</li></ul>

Culture

More San Franciscans are riding Muni rail after years of stalled ridership, new data suggests.

Why it matters: Officials are cautiously optimistic that ridership increases represent a sustained comeback. But SF's transit authority is still on the edge of a fiscal cliff and potential service cuts.

By the numbers: The Muni system logged over 14.9 million passenger trips in March, 85% of pre-pandemic levels (the highest yet) and an 8% increase from March 2025, per the latest SFMTA data.

That growth was largely driven by the Muni Metro light rail lines, which reached 74% of 2019 ridership levels in March — a post-pandemic record for the system — and averaged 121,000 trips during weekdays, SFMTA spokesperson Michael Roccaforte told Axios.

Muni Metro accounts for nearly a quarter of Muni's overall ridership and primarily serves downtown,

Weekday ridership is back to 79% of March 2019 levels, averaging 529,000 daily trips.

Rail ridership fell sharply during the pandemic and has trailed behind buses in the last five years.

Rail recovery is running in parallel with downtown San Francisco's post-pandemic rebound — driven by an increase in commuters, nightlife and office leasing, according to Sebastian Petty, senior transportation policy advisor at the urban policy think tank SPUR.

Zoom out: Recent high-profile events, like the Chinese New Year parade and Tulip Festival, also boosted ridership across the Muni system, with an average of 362,000 daily trips across March weekends, Roccaforte said.

Yes, but: These gains won't matter if Muni can't secure the funding needed to keep operating, Petty said.

Even if ridership reaches pre-pandemic levels, the fare revenue generated wouldn't be enough to cover the budget deficit, he said.

Local leaders, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, are pushing two crucial funding measures ahead of the November election to help Muni close a $307 million deficit.

Without those funds, officials have warned that Muni will have to cut over a dozen bus routes and eliminate nighttime service, leading to longer wait times.

"Right now, you have a lot of metrics that are pointing in the right direction, but that's contingent on getting funding to sustain it," Petty said.

Muni rail ridership hits post-pandemic high

Passenger trips on Muni's rail line have trailed behind buses in the last five years.

Underground metro platform with a red-and-white train at the edge; its front display reads "Sunnydale". A digital sign above shows "Southbound" and "Third Street Sunnydale". Passengers wait to the right.

Muni Metro is seeing a boost in passengers again. Photo: Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

More San Franciscans are riding Muni rail after years of stalled ridership, new data suggests.Why it matters: Officials are cautiously optimistic that ridership increases represent a sustained comeback. But SF&#x27;s transit authority is still on the edge of a fiscal cliff and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="potential service cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/04/21/san-francisco-muni-budget" data-vars-content-id="ab4ab8d0-f01a-48a5-8b97-fd67389d7538" data-vars-headline="Muni rail ridership hits post-pandemic high" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/04/21/san-francisco-muni-budget" target="_self">potential service cuts</a>.

Transit

Chonkers is getting his own mini-me after soaring to new celebrity heights.

State of play: Fans crowding the docks for a glimpse of the giant Steller sea lion can now buy their own Chonkers plushie from the Marine Mammal Center for $24.95.

Proceeds support marine mammal protection. 

Catch up quick: If you don't know who Chonkers is, you're living under a rock. 

The 2,000-pound sea lion took the internet by storm after appearing at the docks in early April.

Even Mayor Daniel Lurie got in the action earlier this week, waking up bright and early to catch a peek of Chonkers. (No luck, unfortunately.)

The intrigue: Not everyone is in love with San Francisco's new icon. Some hot takes are advocating for Chonkers to be cancelled. 

"Transplant energy all around," the San Francisco Standard denounced in a satirical takedown on Thursday.

Alas, it's hard to cancel a sea lion once he has his own merch line.

Chonkers enters his merch era

The internet-famous sea lion's celebrity status just reached new heights.

Left: a brown plush seal with blue eyes. Right: a group of real seals lounging on a dock by the water, with a pier and people in the background.

Get Chonkers all to yourself. Images: Courtesy of Marine Mammal Center and Pier 39

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chonkers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/04/28/giant-sea-lion-chonkers-pier-39" data-vars-content-id="ce220692-4ade-4bd2-b791-96b0fa487ce1" data-vars-headline="Chonkers enters his merch era" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/04/28/giant-sea-lion-chonkers-pier-39" target="_self">Chonkers</a> is getting his own mini-me after soaring to new celebrity heights.State of play: Fans crowding the docks for a glimpse of the giant Steller sea lion can now buy their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="own Chonkers plushie" data-vars-click-url="https://shop.marinemammalcenter.org/products/chonkers-steller-sea-lion-plush" data-vars-content-id="ce220692-4ade-4bd2-b791-96b0fa487ce1" data-vars-headline="Chonkers enters his merch era" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://shop.marinemammalcenter.org/products/chonkers-steller-sea-lion-plush" target="_blank">own Chonkers plushie</a> from the Marine Mammal Center for $24.95.

Shawna Chen

Featured stories

What to know about California's June 2 primary

Raise your glass to SF's Friday news quiz

Lessons we learned from our mothers

Chonkers enters his merch era

Muni rail ridership hits post-pandemic high