San Francisco moderates warn of a progressive resurgence as advocacy groups regroup ahead of 2026 races

A shifting political landscape after costly elections

San Francisco’s political center is reorganizing for the next cycle, arguing the city’s ideological pendulum could swing back toward progressives in 2026. The warning comes as moderate-aligned civic and political organizations rebuild after a recent election season that featured high spending, sharply contested narratives about public safety and homelessness, and fights over the direction of City Hall.

A prominent moderate network that previously operated under the TogetherSF banner has been relaunched as Blueprint for a Better San Francisco, a $2 million annual initiative. Its stated focus includes public safety, government effectiveness, economic recovery and what it describes as “homeless pragmatism.” Blueprint is being run by Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, a well-funded group long involved in local political contests.

Blueprint’s stated priorities and what it says it will not do

Blueprint’s leaders have said the initiative will concentrate on voter education and policy advocacy rather than direct campaign activity, which would remain with its affiliated political organization. In the near term, Blueprint’s first objective has been framed as defending the mayor’s budget proposal from changes at the Board of Supervisors.

• Advocacy for increased police staffing and public-safety measures
• Support for expanded drug-treatment options, including court-mandated approaches
• Efforts to reduce permitting and regulatory barriers tied to development and economic activity
• Education policy messaging centered on measurable student outcomes
• Longer-term interest in structural changes to city governance, including the role of commissions

Blueprint has also said it does not plan to take a formal role in the recall election targeting Supervisor Joel Engardio, while signaling interest in maintaining moderate representation in that seat regardless of the outcome.

Mayor Daniel Lurie’s position in a post-election coalition

The relaunch underscores a complicated alignment between outside groups and Mayor Daniel Lurie, who won election in November in a campaign that did not rely on the city’s major moderate pressure groups. Lurie has publicly sought to keep distance from some of these organizations, even as the new initiative’s leaders position themselves as supportive of key elements of his agenda, particularly on budget choices.

Progressive pushback and disputes over money in politics

Progressive organizers have criticized the moderate network as an “astroturf” ecosystem driven by wealthy donors, arguing that large-scale political spending distorts local democracy. The Phoenix Project, launched in early 2024, was created explicitly to track and contest the influence of big-money organizations in city politics and to build a progressive counterweight.

At the center of the dispute is whether San Francisco’s recent moderate gains reflect durable voter realignment—or a temporary reaction to street conditions, downtown recovery concerns, and well-funded campaigns.

What to watch in 2026

With supervisor and school board contests ahead, both camps are signaling an extended fight over governance, public safety, homelessness policy and the city’s economic strategy. The next year is expected to feature intensified organizing, continued debate over political spending, and competing claims about whether San Francisco is stabilizing under a more centrist approach—or poised for another progressive resurgence.