San Francisco Voters Oust Progressive DA Chesa Boudin in Recall
The prosecutor faced fierce backlash as crime concerns mount in the city.
Chesa Boudin, right, gestures to supporters in San Francisco on June 7.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergSan Francisco residents voted to recall Chesa Boudin, a progressive district attorney who sought to reform the city’s criminal-justice system but met fierce opposition from critics who painted him as too soft on crime.
About 60% of voters favored ousting Boudin, according to the Associated Press, with about two-thirds of votes counted. He’ll be replaced by an interim DA chosen by Mayor London Breed.
The controversial referendum comes as local officials across the country debate approaches to public safety. Boudin, 41, took office in January 2020 with promises of holding police accountable and ending harsh sentencing that fueled mass incarceration. But opponents blamed him for many of San Francisco’s ills, including spikes in some categories of crime and drug use on city streets.