David Lee is the Westside's forever candidate: Everyone knows his name, but what's his game?

David Lee has run for office in San Francisco five times without winning. He first ran in 2012 for District 1 supervisor, then ran again in 2016 and 2020. In 2024 he ran for the State Assembly and finished second to Catherine Stefani by about 38,000 votes, but received more than 14,000 votes from District 4 residents. His campaigns have also affected other races. In 2020 he and Connie Chan coordinated a ranked-choice strategy that helped Chan narrowly defeat Marjan Philhour by 125 votes. Lee moved to the Sunset in September and is now running for District 4 supervisor, citing his investment in a $1.6 million retirement home and long-standing ties there. If elected, he would follow Joel Engardio as a District 4 supervisor who previously ran unsuccessfully in another district multiple times.

"This is the fifth time David Lee has run for office in San Francisco. He has not yet won. He has not yet, to be fair, come close to winning. But his presence in past races has determined the winner. And, as he runs for District 4 supervisor in June, his candidacy could be eventful, regardless of where he eventually places."

"In 2024, he set his sights on the State Assembly, but came second to Catherine Stefani, trailing by some 38,000 votes. By now, Lee has established some degree of name recognition. More than 14,000 District 4 residents voted for him in his State Assembly race in 2024."

"In 2020, he and District 1 aspirant Connie Chan agreed upon a ranked-choice strategy. Chan edged out Marjan Philhour by just 125 votes. "David was instrumental in bringing Connie over the finish line," said former District 1 supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, who beat Lee in his 2016 run for the District 1 seat - his second of three attempts at the position."

"When asked about his repeated runs for office at a March forum, Lee pointed to buying a retirement home for $1.6 million in the Sunset after his adult kids moved away. (He still owns two apartment buildings in the Richmond.) "That's not a small investment," he said. "Sunset has been my cultural home. It's where my friends are, it's where my family is. We have deep connections.""

Read at Mission Local