Voters recall Engardio, by huge margin

Now it's up to Lurie to appoint a D4 supe—and it won't be an easy choice

September 16, 2025

I think we can call this one right now: Sup. Joel Engardio has lost his job.

With about 30 percent of the vote in, 65 percent of the voters favored the recall. There’s no way that’s going to change as the final count trickles in.

Former Sup. Quentin Kopp announces the results. Now Mayor Lurie has to make a difficult choice.

So now comes the tricky part: Will Engardio resign, giving Mayor Daniel Lurie the ability to appoint a supe before any new major legislation, including his Family Zoning Plan, goes before the board?

And who will Lurie appoint? The voters of D4 have made clear that they oppose not only the closure of the Great Highway but the mayor’s plan to put 12-story towers in their community.

The new supe will have to face the voters both in June 2026, and in November 2026.

Not an easy call.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tim Redmond

Tim Redmond has been a political and investigative reporter in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He spent much of that time as executive editor of the Bay Guardian. He is the founder of 48hills.

Voters recall Engardio, by huge margin

Featured

United Nations, won’t you come on home?

Under the Stars: Pardon us while we gush over R.E. Seraphin’s baroque pop cool

Alexi Kenney packs nocturnal energy, psychedelic fantasy into SoundBox

More by this author

Hardly anyone opposes low-income senior housing, but there’s an appeal anyway

Lurie wants to give away $40 million in public money for a private hotel—but it may not be legal

BART cuts deal with Uber—without approval of the elected board

You might also likeRELATED

News

Politics

Arts

Culture