Quick answers to common questions about my campaign for elected office
NOTE: This is about my 2020 campaign. Click here for my 2024 campaign FAQ.
Who are you?
My name is Mike Chen. I am 29, a native of Ohio, and a 5-year resident of San Francisco. I’m a renter and a neighborhood organizer for urbanist causes. I work full-time as a Data Engineer in the tech industry. I live in Lower Pac Heights, near the Whole Foods on Franklin & California and where the California St cable cars stop at Van Ness. I’m running for office for the first time.
What are you running for?
I’m running for the San Francisco County Democratic Party Central Committee, also known as the DCCC (pronounced dee-triple-cee). The DCCC is the front-line community leadership of the San Francisco Democratic Party.
What does the DCCC do?
The DCCC works in the community and organizes the day-to-day operations of the local Democratic Party. The DCCC registers new Democrats, endorses on ballot items, encourages people to vote, recommends policy priorities, and encourages civic participation. Put another way: the DCCC determines the values and sets the agenda for the Democratic Party. To achieve that agenda, the DCCC recruits like-minded people and marshals them to vote for that agenda in elections.
Why is this office important?
The DCCC is little-known but has a huge influence on the city through the election of local officials, setting and implementing local policies and supporting nationwide Democratic efforts here in San Francisco. The DCCC decides the Democratic Party endorsement for local races — a DCCC endorsement can swing an election by 8 percentage points. The resolutions that the DCCC passes can become legislation and government policy. The DCCC recruited volunteers to phone bank for critical US House seats in the 2018 midterms.
Why are you running for this?
I feel lucky to live in San Francisco — it’s a place where I can be my kind of different. We San Franciscans pride ourselves on being diverse, open, and inclusive. But when housing costs are so high that people cannot afford to live in the city that they love, our inclusive image is a false promise. I’m running because our policies should align with our values. I want to speak up for younger people, for newcomers, and for people who are priced out of SF.
Why are you qualified for this position?
As a neighborhood organizer of Northern Neighbors, I rallied my neighbors to speak up for housing, bikeshare, safe streets, and taco trucks. Last year our support and voices helped approve the 3333 California project, which will replace a closed off office campus with an open space, a childcare facility, places for new businesses, 558 market-rate homes, and 186 homes for low-income seniors. I want to bring that same energy of organizing and spirit of livable streets to the Democratic Party.
I am a volunteer lead in YIMBY Action, and I have spoken up for housing of all kinds. I helped YIMBY Action rally its members to support the Embarcadero Navigation Center.
I wrote three voter guides (and here’s one for March 2020) to help my friends navigate our long and confusing ballots. I think hard about policy and I want to give people the background and why something is on the ballot. While I give a yes/no recommendation, I also provide the information for readers to make their own decisions about how to vote on a ballot item. Most people want to do their research and make an informed decision on their ballot, but they don’t know who to trust. I see a need for better information and giving people simple explanations.
What’s your platform?
My policy priorities are to:
- Expand the housing supply for all income levels. Reform zoning laws to allow more people to live on the same amount of land, streamline the approval process, and increase subsidies for low-income households.
- Get people around the city more efficiently and sustainably. Invest in public transportation: buses, trains, and subways. Make it safe and convenient to travel by bicycle, on a scooter, and on foot. Design streets to reduce traffic collisions and prioritize efficient transportation.
- Foster cultural third spaces and where people can form networks of friendship and support. Create spaces of connection and community: cafes, parks, vibrant streets, and common spaces.
My party priorities are to:
- Register voters in more transient populations: newcomers, young people 18–34, people experiencing homelessness, and people who move within San Francisco.
- Provide voter education materials for people who want to learn more about the ballot but are confused about where to go.
- Pursue digital strategies for voter turnout through internet marketing and social media.
Do you have to quit your job if you win?
No. The DCCC is an unpaid elected position, and it’s not full time. If elected I would do DCCC work (e.g. fundraising, voter registration, education, outreach) outside of my day job. The DCCC meets once a month in the evenings to give updates and make decisions as a group.
You work in tech. Why do you care about San Francisco?
There’s a popular narrative that the tech industry is the source of all problems in San Francisco. Tech has exacerbated the issues we face, but its influence is overrated: the information industry is only 7 percent of San Francisco’s workforce. When we hear from tech, we mostly hear from CEOs and VC investors. We don’t hear as much from rank and file employees: engineers, cafe workers, and bus drivers. I want to represent the voices that aren’t in the news. I believe that tech workers share the same concerns as other San Franciscans. They are concerned about housing costs. They are concerned about homelessness. They want strong middle class jobs to sustain a vibrant city. The 40,000 people who work in tech can and should be part of the solution. If elected, I would use my relationships with both the tech industry and civic organizations to work towards solutions. Let’s break down the us-vs-them language and work together to lower the cost of housing, reduce the suffering of people living on the streets, and fill empty storefronts in our neighborhoods.
When is the election?
The election is on March 3, 2020, on the same ballot as the presidential primary. The DCCC is elected every four years.
Who can vote for you?
You must be a registered Democrat living in San Francisco in the 17th Assembly district (the east side). You can use the state lookup website or this custom Google map to check what assembly district you are in. You can check your party registration with the SF Department of Elections or the California Secretary of State (if you don’t have a state ID, use A000000). To change your party registration or update your address, you can re-register to vote here.
How many candidates and seats are there?
There are 35 candidates running for 14 seats in my district. You can vote for up to 14 candidates. The top 14 vote-getters are elected to a seat on the DCCC.
How many votes do you need?
In the last election in 2016, the winners had 22,000–44,000 votes out of 180,000 Democratic votes cast. My target is to get at least 30,000 votes.
How can I help?
- (1min) Tell a friend: send this article to a friend who lives in San Francisco!
- (1min) Social media: Follow my campaign by email, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Share things from my campaign and tell your friends why you support me!
- (5min) Bring me along to a social event (party, dinner, happy hour) and introduce me to your friends! Your network is your superpower: you have a much higher chance of convincing your friends to vote for me than if I tried to do it solo. Let me know by email!
- (2hr) Host a party for me and invite your friends! Party can be at your place or a venue. If you are interested in this, we can help find venue and make plans! Biggest thing is having you there and inviting your friends. Email me with some dates that you’re thinking!
- ($$) Donate money to help me reach voters! Campaign contributions go towards coffee and donuts for volunteers; signs and flyers; and media advertising to get the word out.
Who can donate to your campaign?
US citizens and US permanent residents (green card holders) who are at least 18 years old can contribute up to $500 of their own funds to my campaign.
Are you running with other people?
Yes! I’m running on the Mobilize & Organize slate of candidates. If you support me, please consider voting for them as well. They are (in order that they will appear on the ballot):
My side (AD-17):
Kristen Asato-Webb
Nima Rahimi
Mike Chen
Austin Hunter
Tyra Fennell
Victor Olivieri
Mick Del Rosario
Carole Migden
Bivett Brackett
Vallie Brown
Tami Bryant
Steven Buss
Nancy Tung
West side (AD-19):
Kat Anderson
Nadia Rahman
Cyn Wang
Suzy Loftus
Jane Natoli
Ahsha Safai
Seeyew Mo
Paul Miyamoto
Mary Jung
Mawuli Tugbenyoh
