{"id":488806,"date":"2026-10-08T04:26:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T04:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/488806\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T04:26:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T04:26:24","slug":"manny-yekutiel-drops-out-of-sf-supervisor-race-amid-sexual-assault-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/488806\/","title":{"rendered":"Manny Yekutiel drops out of SF supervisor race amid sexual assault claims"},"content":{"rendered":"

A well-connected San Francisco activist<\/a> and trendy cafe owner has dropped out of the race for the city\u2019s District 8 supervisor at the last minute due to a series of lurid sexual assault allegations<\/a>. <\/p>\n

His decision to withdraw from the race has seen the city\u2019s Democratic powerbrokers throw their weight behind Gary McCoy, who has worked as a political director for Nancy Pelosi and was a VP of policy and public affairs at HealthRight 360, the city\u2019s largest drug rehab nonprofit.<\/p>\n

McCoy, a recovering drug user who was formerly homeless, has been a fierce advocate for decriminalizing drugs. <\/p>\n

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He has defended the city\u2019s first safe consumption site that allowed people to use drugs under supervision and even went on a strike<\/a> to try to get officials to authorize the use of safe consumption services.<\/p>\n

Manny Yekutiel, who owns the Mission district hotspot Manny\u2019s Cafe, has been accused of groping two men at a Pride party in 2023, the San Francisco Standard reported.<\/a><\/p>\n

Manny Yekutiel, who owns the Mission district hotspot Manny\u2019s Cafe, has been accused of groping two men at a Pride party in 2023. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The cafe has previously hosted top Dems such as former VP Kamala Harris<\/a>, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former First Lady Jill Biden. <\/p>\n

The allegation follows a claim that emerged in July, in which he was accused of grabbing another man\u2019s testicles at a house party in 2020.<\/p>\n

Yekutiel released a statement denying the allegations but announcing he was withdrawing from the race. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am deeply sorry for any boundaries that I crossed. I\u2019m going to take this time to work on myself,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a great deal of reflection I have made the difficult decision to end my campaign for District 8 Supervisor,\u201d he continued. \u201cMoving through the machinery of San Francisco\u2019s politics has left me with very little light left in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second round of allegations prompted many allies who stuck with him to back down, including Mayor Daniel Lurie.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing forward is hard and these survivors deserve to be heard, and treated with dignity and respect,\u201d Lurie said in a statement, withdrawing his endorsement.<\/p>\n

All city supervisors who had previously endorsed Yekutiel also withdrew their approvals, KQED reported.<\/a><\/p>\n

All city supervisors who had previously endorsed Yekutiel also withdrew their approvals. Facebook\/Emanuel Seth<\/p>\n

Yekutiel was at a dance party called Electroluxx at the Midway when he encountered Ryan Clark, the Standard reported. Clark alleged that Yekutiel groped his genitals and buttocks. When he told the candidate to stop and mentioned his partner was there, Yekutiel then allegedly turned to the partner and put his hands down his pants to grope him.<\/p>\n

The initial brushing aside of the first allegation back in the summer has now come under even more scrutiny and is causing backlash.<\/p>\n

San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung issued an apology for its policy failing to adequately evaluate the sexual misconduct allegations and for the party to still endorse Yekutiel. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images<\/p>\n

This week, San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung issued an apology<\/a> for its policy failing to adequately evaluate the sexual misconduct allegations and for the party to still endorse Yekutiel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis policy failed the first survivor to come forward, Brad Chapin, who took the courageous and painful step not only to file a formal complaint, but to stand up and speak directly before our committee during the District 8 endorsement hearing,\u201d Tung said. <\/p>\n

\u200b\u201dI publicly and sincerely apologize to Mr. Chapin for how our process treated his complaint and for an endorsement decision that caused him further harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supervisor Connie Chan, who is running for Rep. Nancy Pelosi\u2019s congressional seat, said Tuesday she was calling on Tung to resign for that lapse in judgment. Santiago Mejia\/San Francisco Chronicle via AP<\/p>\n

San Francisco District 8 supervisorial candidate Gary McCoy is pictured. McCoy became the favorite in the race after candidate Manny Yekutiel dropped out following allegations of sexual assault. Facebook\/Gary McCoy<\/p>\n

Supervisor Connie Chan, who is running for Rep. Nancy Pelosi\u2019s congressional seat<\/a>, said Tuesday she was calling on Tung to resign for that lapse in judgment.<\/p>\n

Tung dismissed that resignation call in comments to the Standard.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder Nancy Tung, the San Francisco Democratic Party has lost all credibility,\u201d Chan said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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