Manny Yekutiel suspended his campaign for San Francisco District 8 supervisor on Oct. 1 after a San Francisco Standard investigation reported new allegations that he groped two men at a 2023 Pride event. Yekutiel denied the assault claims but apologized for crossing boundaries and said he would step back to work on himself. Major backers, including Mayor Daniel Lurie and several city supervisors, rescinded endorsements, and the San Francisco Democratic Party will reconsider its endorsement at a special meeting on Oct. 11. Yekutiel's name will remain on more than 500,000 vote-by-mail ballots.
San Francisco Leaders Withdraw Endorsements After New Sexual Assault Allegations Force Manny Yekutiel to Suspend Campaign
Manny Yekutiel, who was running for the San Francisco Supervisor District 8 seat, suspended his campaign on Oct. 1, 2026, after additional sexual assault allegations emerged.
Manny Yekutiel, a leading candidate for San Francisco's District 8 supervisor seat, announced on Oct. 1 that he is suspending his campaign after a San Francisco Standard investigation published new allegations that he groped two men at a 2023 Pride event.
Allegations and Response
The San Francisco Standard's report states that Yekutiel allegedly groped two men while dancing at Pride in 2023 and continued despite being told the couple were monogamous, stopping only after one of the men pushed him away. Yekutiel issued a statement denying the assault allegations while expressing regret for any boundary violations: 'I am not admitting to having assaulted anyone and some of the things that are being said about me are fundamentally untrue. But I am deeply sorry for any boundaries that I crossed. I'm going to take this time to work on myself.'
Earlier allegations included a police report from political activist Brad Joseph Chapin, who told KRON4 that Yekutiel grabbed his genitals. The San Francisco Police Department investigated that claim but did not file charges.
Endorsements Rescinded
Yekutiel had previously secured prominent endorsements — including backing from the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and support from Mayor Daniel Lurie, with whom he co-founded the Civic Joy Fund in 2023. After the Standard's reporting, several endorsers rescinded support.
'My endorsement is a statement of my confidence in someone's character and leadership, and in light of the additional accounts reported today, I am withdrawing it,' Mayor Lurie said, adding that survivors deserve to be heard with dignity and respect.
Other supervisors who withdrew endorsements include Bilal Mahmood (District 5), Alan Wong (District 4), Danny Sauter (District 3) and Matt Dorsey (District 8). Mahmood emphasized that accountability begins with people we know and trust.
Political Fallout and Party Review
State Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan—both running for the U.S. House in California's 11th District—denounced Yekutiel and urged him to suspend his campaign. Chan also called on endorsers, including the San Francisco Democratic Party, to withdraw support. In response, the party announced a special meeting for Oct. 11 to reconsider its endorsement for the District 8 race.
Election Impact
Although Yekutiel has suspended his campaign, his name will remain on ballots. The San Francisco Department of Elections reported that the U.S. Postal Service began delivering vote-by-mail ballots to more than 500,000 registered city voters on Oct. 1. Voters may return ballots at any of the city's 37 official drop boxes.
This developing story reflects a rapid shift in political support and underscores the challenges campaigns face when misconduct allegations surface. Reports cited here include the San Francisco Standard and local reporting from KRON4; additional coverage appeared in USA TODAY.
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