An election was held on November 3 and December 8, 1987, to elect the 39th mayor of San Francisco. Dianne Feinstein, then the incumbent, had served as mayor since the 1978 assassination of mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk and had been elected to full terms in 1979 and 1983, and was thus term-limited. Then-California State Assembly member Art Agnos came from behind to defeat Supervisor John Molinari, garnering nearly 70 percent of the vote.
Background Agnos was seen as the more liberal candidate whereas Molinari was the more conservative option.
San Francisco City Attorney Louise Renne ran a mayoral campaign but dropped out before the election.
Endorsements Agnos was endorsed by the San Francisco Police Officers Association.
Molinari was endorsed by Supervisor Carole Migden.
Results
First round +November 3, 1987PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticArt Agnos90,52148.16%DemocraticJohn L. Molinari46,74724.87%NonpartisanRoger Boas40,892 21.76%NonpartisanWarren Hinckle5,2022.77%NonpartisanCesar Ascarrunz1,483 0.79%NonpartisanWill Durst1,445 0.77%NonpartisanMelissa Ehman5570.30%NonpartisanPeter Anestos4980.27%NonpartisanJoseph Ryan370 0.20%NonpartisanScott D. Redmond2550.14%Total votes:193,742Voter turnout:51.1%
Runoff +December 8, 1987PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticArt Agnos102,89869.92%DemocraticJohn L. Molinari44,27530.08%Total Votes:153,720Voter Turnout:40.3%
References