Term Limits Measure Advances to Full Board Without Committee Backing

The Rules Committee punted on a charter amendment that would transform how long San Francisco politicians can serve, forwarding the measure to the full Board of Supervisors without taking a position after a fractured debate exposed deep disagreements over democratic governance and institutional memory.

• Charter amendment to impose lifetime two-term limits on Mayor and Board of Supervisors moves to full Board without recommendation ahead of June 2, 2026 ballot deadline

• Chair Walton's push to expand lifetime limits to all elected offices - including City Attorney and District Attorney - fails.

• Board President Mandelman breaks with the proposal, calling eight years "too short" and floating a 12-year alternative

• Public commenters unanimously urged the committee to place the measure before voters

The committee's lone agenda item - a charter amendment to convert existing consecutive term limits into lifetime caps for the Mayor and Board of Supervisors—drew sharp philosophical divisions among the three members, none of whom left fully satisfied.