Obama Alumni Bilal Mahmood Becomes First Muslim, First South Asian Elected to San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Bilal Mahmood, 37  has become the first Muslim and South Asian elected to San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The former tech entrepreneur and Obama alumni, who represents District 5, unseated democratic socialist Dean Preston in a tight race. In his new role, the Pakistani American will “oversee the troubled Tenderloin neighborhood, which has been plagued by fentanyl deaths, homeless encampments, and crime,” The San Francisco Standard reported. 

A former policy analyst with the Obama administration, Mahmood this year was elected to the Democratic County Central Committee in a moderate takeover of the local party’s governing body. “I met residents who lost loved ones to overdoses,” Mahmood told The San Francisco Standard about his time on the campaign trail. “It is an issue and crisis that affects everyone.” 

The San Francisco Chronicle noted that “the District 5 race was the most expensive supervisor contest this election with over $1.5 million raised by all candidates, including public financing.” Mahmood “raised more than $496,000 and was aided by moderate political advocacy group GrowSF’s  “Dump Dean” PAC, which raised nearly $300,000,” the publication said. Preston raised more than $511,000 for his reelection bid.  

Some results of the state’s Assembly elections were declared this week. Among them was the 26th State Assembly District, where Democrat Tara Sreekrishnan lost to Patrick Ahrens. Sreekrishnan conceded defeat after the majority of ballots were counted. Ahrens secured 56.1% of the vote, while Sreekrishnan garnered 43.9%. 

In her statement following the election, Sreekrishnan expressed her gratitude for the support she received throughout the campaign. “While it’s not the outcome we’d hoped for, I am immensely proud of the campaign we ran together,” she said. “To each of you who donated, volunteered, endorsed, or cast your vote in support of our vision—thank you. Your belief in our mission and dedication to our community have been my greatest motivation throughout this journey.”

Candidates in other Assembly districts in the state won their seats. In Assembly District 27 , incumbent Ash Kalra, a Democrat, was elected for his fifth term after his win over  Republican Ted Stroll. The district encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County. Kalra was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history. He is the chair of the Committee on Labor and Employment and also serves as a member of the Housing and Community Development, Judiciary, Transportation, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife committees. 

Incumbent Assemblywoman Jaseemt Kaur Bains was able to retain her seat by defeating Republican Robert Rosas. Her focus on healthcare and economic recovery has struck a chord with voters in this Bakersfield-area district. In 2022, the family physician from Bakersfield became the first South Asian American woman to be elected to the State Assembly from Kern County. 

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In San Diego, Democrat Darshana Patel declared victory in the competitive race to represent the 76th Assembly District after maintaining a steady lead over Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane. Patel, a research scientist and Poway Unified School District board member, thanked those who had worked on her campaign, including volunteers and her family, as well as all the voters who made their voices heard.

“The voters have placed their trust in me to advocate for them in the State Assembly, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I am committed to fighting for their needs and interests, and to making the wellbeing of our communities my highest priority.”The Coast News notes that Patel was far from a shoo-in for the seat, which represents a district with stronger Republican voting power than just a couple of years ago.” The state’s 2021 district redrawing effort moved much of the 77th district into the 76th, which now represents San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, Carmel Mountain Ranch, and Rancho Bernardo. 

In other elections, Aliya Chisti was reelected on the seven-member Board of Trustees for City College of San Francisco. Chisti, who became a trustee in 2021, is the senior policy analyst at the city’s Department of Human Resources. She is the city’s first Muslim elected official and holds a master’s degree in education policy from Columbia University. She has said her priorities are repairing the college’s accreditation violations and restoring its fiscal stability.