San Francisco Board of Supervisors President London Breed has become the first African American woman elected to serve as mayor of San Francisco. Her rival Mark Leno conceded the race Wendesday after more than a week of vote-counting. The latest totals had Breed ahead of Leno by more than 2,100 votes.
In a speech outside San Francisco City Hall, Breed paid tribute to her predecessor, the late Edwin Lee. She thanked supporters and expressed optimism for the future of the city.
Recalling her humble beginnings as a child who grew up in poverty, Breed urged young people to remember that “no matter where you came from… you can do anything you want to do.”
Breed is a graduate of the University of California, Davis. She holds a bachelor of arts in political science and public service and a minor in African American studies, as well as a masters in public administration from the University of San Francisco. She was elected to the Board of Supervisors (District 5) in 2013 and elected president of the Board two years later. She became acting mayor following the death of Ed Lee but was soon ousted by the Board and replaced by Mark Farrell pending the special election.
Breed has been viewed as a more moderate politician among colleagues and among the field of mayoral hopefuls.
SF gate has a summary of her positions on the city’s most pressing issues here.