Recall Against SF Supervisor Joel Engardio Heads to the Ballot

A petition to hold a recall election against San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio has collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, the Department of Elections announced Thursday.

Engardio, who represents District 4, was elected in 2022 to oversee neighborhoods including the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods. But constituents raged against the supervisor after his support of Proposition K in 2024, a citywide ballot measure that voters passed, closing off the upper portion of the Great Highway to cars permanently.

“This verifies that the voters of District 4 want better. They really have spoken up and shown that they want a supervisor who represents them and not a bunch of special interests,” said Jamie Hughes, the recall campaign leader.

Engardio and other supporters of Proposition K argued that removing cars has created space for a sprawling beachside park, now called Sunset Dunes. Today, the 2-mile highway stretch frequently features rotating art displays, food trucks and car-free lanes for cycling, skating and strolling.

Supporters also point to coastal erosion eating away at the lower portion of the Great Highway — from Sloat to Skyline boulevards — which is already scheduled to close in 2026.

“Change is hard, and even more so when climate change is forcing our hand,” Engardio said in a statement on Thursday. “I understand that Sunset Dunes represents a tough change for some in our community, but early data is clear: the park is supporting the rehabilitation of the coastal dunes, it’s bringing new customers to local businesses, and it’s providing a popular space for generations of people to enjoy walking, biking, and nature.”

The majority of District 4 residents living nearest to the 2-mile strip opposed Proposition K in 2024. Many feared closing off the westside thoroughfare would cause significant traffic delays.

So far, that’s been true for some car commuters, like Sunset resident Hoi-Sing Hui, who works at an adult care facility in the Richmond District.

“Before, it used to take me only about 5 minutes to get to work. Sometimes now it takes like 20 minutes. This is crazy, it’s only like two miles away,” he said just after signing the recall petition on a recent Sunday. “If you close the road, figure out how to resolve the problem. I’m from Hong Kong. I know the meaning of proper public transit. If you don’t want us to drive, please, give us better public transit.”

But a successful recall won’t automatically put cars back on the Great Highway. Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents Richmond, said she could explore a ballot measure to potentially reopen the Great Highway to cars if the recall qualified for an election.

The petition submitted last week contained 10,523 valid signatures, surpassing the 9,911 required signatures, according to the Department of Elections.

Engardio gained political prominence for supporting the recalls of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin and three San Francisco school board members in 2022.

Now, a special election for District 4 voters is scheduled for Sept.16, 2025, against him.

On Thursday, the supervisor said he feels “confident that Sunset voters will see through” the recall effort, noting more popular changes he’s brought to the neighborhood like the Sunset Night Market.

“I hear every day from residents who are tired of distractions and appreciate having a supervisor who shows up and delivers,” Engardio said. “I will campaign hard every day and continue to show up for District 4 so I can serve my community for my full term.”