Mayor Daniel Lurie's Charter Reform Campaign Amasses $12.8 Million Ahead of November Ballot Measure Vote

Campaign committees supporting Mayor Daniel Lurie's municipal charter reform ballot measures have raised a combined $12.8 million from 47 prominent civic and technology donors, according to mandatory pre-election financial disclosure filings released by the San Francisco Ethics Commission on Wednesday. The substantial fundraising total positions the "Clean Up City Hall" coalition as the most heavily funded municipal policy campaign on the November ballot.

The financial filings demonstrate extensive backing for Propositions D, E, and F, a suite of structural charter amendments championed by Mayor Lurie to eliminate bureaucratic gridlock, dissolve dozens of redundant appointed advisory commissions, and grant the mayor direct administrative authority over departmental hiring and capital budgeting. Prominent campaign contributors include venture capitalist Michael Moritz, who contributed $2.6 million, alongside cryptocurrency entrepreneur Chris Larsen and his spouse, who provided $2.5 million in combined funding to the reform political action committee.

Campaign spokespersons for the reform coalition argued that San Francisco's diffuse commission structure hampers responsive municipal governance, delaying affordable housing approvals and slowing police recruitment through redundant bureaucratic oversight boards. Under Proposition D, the city's 130 active commissions would be capped at 65, with decision-making authority consolidated under departmental directors accountable directly to the elected mayor. Supporters maintain that streamlining administrative operations will accelerate street cleaning, homeless shelter placement, and small business permitting.

Opposition committees organized by public employee labor unions and progressive neighborhood advocates have raised approximately $205,700, arguing that eliminating appointed commissions dilutes democratic public oversight and concentrates excessive power in the mayor's office. Opponents contend that community advisory boards ensure diverse tenant, environmental, and transit rider perspectives are heard before major municipal decisions are finalized. Debates over the ballot package have become a defining theme of the mayoral election cycle.

San Francisco voters will receive official mail-in ballot packets this week, with in-person voting open at City Hall and designated neighborhood polling places through Election Day on November 3. Registered voters can examine complete itemized campaign donor contributions, independent expenditure reports, and competing legal arguments for Propositions D, E, and F through the San Francisco Ethics Commission portal at sfethics.org or through the Department of Elections website.