Teenagers don’t know much about San Francisco politics. Many can’t name a supervisor, aren’t old enough to vote, and don’t have much interest in learning about policy. But that hasn’t stopped them from falling for the man in charge.
Mayor Daniel Lurie isn’t just a policymaker, you see. He’s an icon. The unc who collabbed with IShowSpeed. The city leader whose “How do you do, fellow kids (opens in new tab)” act — much to the chagrin of every other fortysomething dad in the city — is somehow actually working.
In San Francisco, political figures rarely register with teenagers at all. Lurie does — and how and why that is happening is worth investigating. Naturally, we went to Stonestown.
On a recent Saturday afternoon at the mall that’s become San Francisco’s most reliable teen hangout, groups of high schoolers clustered around boba shops and sneaker stores, phones in hand, killing time before Christmas.
“He really cares about high schoolers,” said Mehr, a junior at Lowell High School. “He’s actually involved in the community.”
Mehr first heard about Lurie from her mom, who agrees with many of his policies. Shortly afterward, the teen saw one of the mayor’s videos on her TikTok For You page. Now she follows him on Instagram.
Although Mehr recognizes that the “large age gap” means a friendship with the 48-year-old mayor might be difficult, he seems “approachable” and like a “really casual guy.”
“Most people I know also like him,” Mehr said. “Definitely no one dislikes him, but I do know people who didn’t like London Breed — so that’s a difference.”
Of course, Lurie has spent less than a year in office, compared with his predecessor’s seven years as mayor.
To be fair, many of the teens The Standard asked had no idea who Lurie was. But it is notable that among those who did recognize him, Lurie was often the only city official they could name — and the reaction was unanimously positive.
“I do appreciate the vibes,” said Dominic, a senior at Oceana High School in Pacifica who follows Lurie online. “He seems engaged.”
Sofia, a senior at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, said she noticed how often Lurie shows up at youth events, such as the Bruce-Mahoney rivalry game with St. Ignatius, and to services at her church.
“Our whole school knows him,” Sofia said. “Everyone likes him.”
The comments about Lurie are somewhat shockingly in line with what teens in New York might be saying about Zohran Mamdani, despite the city leaders’ wildly different politics.
Lurie, Sofia said, “caters more to younger audiences. He’s getting people engaged at a younger age.”
That outreach — showing up at school events, posting informal videos, leaning into social media — looks less like traditional politics and more like influencer logic: be visible, feel accessible, don’t seem fake.
“I think he’s a cool guy,” said Zachary, a 16-year-old SF native who goes to boarding school.
Regardless of Lurie’s political future, that might be enough of a victory in itself.