Last November, Mission residents got out of bed and walked out into the chilly morning in their coats, caps and cups of coffee in hand. But it wasn’t Black Friday deals they were pursuing. On November 4, Missionistas turned out in record numbers to vote on everything from presidents to prostitutes, surpassing turnouts recorded in 2004 in every one of 36 precincts.
Voters cast 2,365 more ballots than in 2004, an increase of more than 10 percent, to overwhelmingly elect Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. The overall turnout for the Mission was 81.21 percent, according to the San Francisco Department of Elections.
The Mission District also maintained its title as one of the most liberal districts in the city. Out of 25,656 votes cast in the Mission, John McCain received only 1,635, or 6.37 percent, compared to a citywide 13.62 percent. Only four districts cast a higher percentage for Obama, topped by Haight-Ashbury at 93 percent.
Mission voters also strongly rejected California Propositions 4 and 8 — the parental notification and anti-gay marriage initiatives — with more than 80 percent of the vote. Statewide, Proposition 4 lost by four percent, Proposition 8 passed with 52.3 percent of the vote.
On the controversial measure decriminalize prostitution, Proposition K, the Mission was the strongest out of only five districts to support the measure. Citywide, it was defeated by a nearly 20 percent margin.
In the District 9 Supervisors race, the three progressive candidates of David Campos, Mark Sanchez and Eric Quezada garnered 79 percent of the vote, with the rest split between the more moderate candidacies of Eva Royale, Tom Valtin, Eric Storey and Vern Matthews.
Click on the interactive precinct guide below to review results.
I had a feeling that there was going to be this big of a turnout at the election. I would love to know people’s answers to why they voted for who they did. Nothing like voting someone into office for the wrong reason. Now our children, grandchildren, and 5 generations after that will have to suffer the consequences of blowing so much money.
thanks armand, very interesting about the rates in the 60’s. must have been the high percentage of irish catholic and union influence and organizing. though nothing nationwide has surpassed the 60 election — i thought for sure it would be surpassed this year. apparently not.
Hi Mark, thanks for reading and for your question. Indeed there was a large increase in the turnout rate compared to previous elections. Turnout for the 2008 presidential election was 81 percent, compared to 74 percent in 2004. The 2000 election saw an even lower rate, at 66 percent. The 1992 Clinton/H.W. Bush election did not see a notably large turnout, at 69 percent.
Turns out that while 81 percent is among the highest turnout levels ever recorded, according to the Department of Elections this was exceeded in the presidential elections of 1960 (86 percent), 1964 (85 percent) and 1968 (82 percent).
Thanks for reading Mission Loc@l!
There was an increase in gross number of votes; was there also an increase in turnout rate? How does 2008 turnout rate compare with other years, specifically 1992? Was 2008 the record? If not, what is?