The article highlights the contrasting political atmospheres in San Francisco and New York City regarding progressive politics. It notes that New York City's recent Democratic primary illustrates a significant shift with young leftist Zohran Mamdani defeating established figures like Andrew Cuomo, inspiring parallels to past mayoral races in San Francisco. However, the article argues that San Francisco's progressive movement has diminished, lacking the necessary support of youth and diversity that characterized earlier campaigns. The only remnant of this power lies in organized labor, suggesting a significant decline in political engagement and influence in the city.
For San Franciscans of a certain vintage, the contest rang a distant bell. The notion of a charismatic young leftist firebrand taking on the Democratic establishment against great odds... harked to the epochal Matt Gonzalez vs. Gavin Newsom mayoral contest of 2003.
The progressive movement in San Francisco has rolled back. It is, at present, largely devoid of the youth, vigor, multiculturalism and organizational structure that marked Mamdani's successful primary campaign.
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