Reckoning on Sexual Assault Roils SF Democrats as Mayoral Endorsement Looms

As San Francisco’s top Democratic organizers weigh their endorsement in what could be a pivotal mayoral election, a series of high-profile sexual misconduct accusations by and against party members could force candidates to reckon with mounting internal turmoil.

The local Democratic Party’s primary political organizing body is inching closer to rolling out a set of policies to address sexual harassment, but some advocates for survivors of sexual misconduct told KQED the process has fallen short.

“Conversations of addressing sexual violence in politics is not a new thing. And it does affect the mayoral race, especially if people want to champion change,” said Alondra Esquivel Garcia, president of the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, a nonpartisan group advocating for women in local politics. “It’s so hard to do that when things are so embedded in the infrastructure.”

A special panel of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee plans to present a status report on Wednesday night on its work to create the group’s first code of conduct around reporting, investigating and handling allegations of sexual misconduct within chartered political clubs. At the same meeting, the DCCC is set to vote for and announce its endorsement for mayor.

The special committee on sexual misconduct was formed in April after multiple women came forward with allegations against local Democratic club leaders, including Jon Jacobo and later Kevin Ortiz, two political organizers in the Mission District. Both have denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, accusations that Jay Cheng, who leads the powerful moderate political group Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, attempted to assault a former girlfriend in college resurfaced on social media, drawing renewed attention and reporting on the 2011 incident.

Cheng, who went by Jesse then, resigned from his post as a student regent at the University of California following the accusations. Irvine police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office did not bring charges against Cheng, and he denies the allegations.

“I have always believed that when these types of accusations are made, that they should be taken seriously and fully investigated. I took the incident very seriously, including never revealing the identity of my accuser because she wanted to stay anonymous, and I have respected her wishes,” Cheng wrote in a letter to DCCC Chair Nancy Tung in April, where he expressed his support for the special committee on sexual misconduct in the political community.

As the allegations and Democratic leaders’ response to them come under increased scrutiny, the DCCC’s special committee aims “to change the culture of harassment and abuse,” said Lily Ho, who chairs the special panel.

“That’s a tall order,” Ho said. “How that happens is to empower survivors to speak up and change an environment and space so everyone feels welcomed.”

In practice, that change is hard to make. Multiple survivors and advocates told KQED they had concerns with the group’s approach so far.

“Some Democratic club leaders are looking at ‘innocent until proven guilty’ rhetoric, which often is not seen as survivor-centered,” said Esquivel Garcia, whose group closely follows the committee’s work.

Democratic leaders acknowledged the challenge they face but said survivors and outside experts have informed the process, and it is still a work in progress.

“We recognize this is new territory for all of us,” Ho said. “There isn’t any document or best practices that we can carbon copy; that just doesn’t exist.”

Candidates commit to improving sexual harassment protocol

While the process is underway, mayoral candidates vying for the Democratic endorsement were asked how they would support survivors of sexual assault. Tung didn’t comment specifically on how their responses may weigh into the decision-making process.

“The candidates will rise and fall on their own merits,” Tung said.

Advocates hope the candidates’ proposals to be more responsive to survivors will be an important factor in the DCCC’s endorsement.

“We knew that sexual violence in politics is not good and not the culture we want future leaders to be brought into,” Esquivel Garcia said. “And endorsements are a big thing. If someone endorses you, they truly believe in every mission and goal you’re putting forward.”

Incumbent Mayor London Breed pointed to her administration’s work, which included creating a right to counsel for domestic violence survivors. She wrote: “Sexual harassment and assault is unacceptable in all forms. Survivors who come forward to report sexual assault or harassment must be treated with respect and have their cases investigated.”

Mark Farrell wrote that he has always “stood with survivors and worked to make sure that our service providers and law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to support those who come forward, investigate cases fully, and pursue justice.”

“As Mayor,” he wrote, “public safety will be my top priority, and that includes supporting survivors in every way I can.”

Another candidate, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, said he would work to preserve the Commission on the Status of Women, which a ballot measure proposed by the moderate group TogetherSF Action could slash in an overhaul of the city’s commission system.

“I have put a [competing] ballot measure on the November ballot to ensure the Commission is not removed in a backroom deal with shady politics to blame,” Peskin wrote. “We need to elevate survivors’ voices and double down on our commitment to supporting survivors.”

Mayoral hopefuls grapple with sexual misconduct affiliations

“Personal relationships are hard to navigate in political spaces as well. People have personal relationships with Jay Cheng, and people who are great friends with Kevin Ortiz or Jon Jacobo want to contribute to this process,” Esquivel Garcia said. “It’s hard to navigate those relationships when people have hurt other people.”

Some mayoral campaigns are also contending with ties to a strategist and former aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was convicted of abuse. Nathan Ballard, who was accused of beating his wife and child on a trip to Napa in 2020, took a no-contest plea deal that allowed him to avoid jail.

In early 2021, Farrell was among 45 people who filed a mitigation letter to the court in support of Ballard’s character. Farrell declined to comment on the letter of support.

He isn’t the only mayoral candidate with affiliations with Ballard, who previously worked with the police union and Newsom during his time as San Francisco mayor and as a spokesperson for philanthropist and Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie before his bid for mayor.

Former supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier was initially on the DCCC’s new committee on sexual misconduct but stepped down after posts on social media resurfaced showing she, too, defended Ballard. Breed’s spokesperson, Joe Arellano, also wrote in support of Ballard after the Napa incident.

“Nate served as a mentor, friend, and office mate to me for 14 years before his personal issues. I wrote a letter on his behalf based on those years of friendship and mentorship,” Arellano said. “I feel terrible for everyone involved, but especially for the children, who have had to experience this ordeal and will forever have their lives changed.”

Crafting codes of conduct

So far, the special committee has held three workshops with participation from 15 chartered Democratic clubs. The policies are expected to be ready between August and October, DCCC Chair Tung told KQED.

Committee members are considering resources like a third-party ombudsman that reports could go through and remain anonymous, among other options for survivors.

According to the draft, a club would have to inform the ombudsman of a report within five days of it being filed online, and an investigator would be appointed to gather evidence of whether the code of conduct was violated. Survivors could appeal an outcome, and consequences for the accused would depend on what the survivor pursues, including private or public admonishment or prohibition from attending Democratic club events.

The draft policy also suggests that beginning in January 2025, candidates seeking endorsement must complete and pass sexual harassment training. Club leaders would also have mandatory training on handling complaints, investigations and corrective steps.

Esquivel Garcia acknowledged that the process is difficult but necessary for any change.

“Each survivor is different, and I don’t think you can make everyone happy,” Esquivel Garcia said. “But the candidates need to truly take this advocacy into consideration when they are proposing policies or talking about their goals.”