Why am I NOT upset that Matt Gonzalez lost?
Why am I NOT upset that Matt Gonzalez lost?
… because I’m confident that this is just the beginning. Gavin and the Democratic machine may have won the battle, but they lost the war. Gavin’s narrow margin of victory shows that he’s dependent on the support of a lot of people who strongly disagree with him (but disagree with Matt more). That’s not a sustainable vehicle for success… and it took him $4 million (and counting) to secure the support he got.
Matt did far better than anyone would expect, and given equal resources and opportunity, there’s no question that he would have defeated Newsom. His campaign is a watershed for the progressive movement in this county, and for the Green Party… no one will ever again be able to dismiss a Green candidate as unviable, simply by virtue of their voter registration. Today, in San Francisco, a Green received the votes of an overwhelming majority of progressives, and a solid majority of registered Democrats, facing a what most would describe as a “moderate to liberal” Democrat (in today’s twisted vernacular, which pays no attention to issues of class and equity). A Green demonstrated that he was able to reach across party lines, and the Green Party demonstrated that it has the organizational capacity and resources to mount a serious electoral campaign and make a significant impact on the political process on a large stage.
There is nothing to be sorry about here; Matt made a valiant effort that no one expected to come this far, the powers that be have been scared silly and are going to be much more cautious and chastened as a result, and San Francisco will be the better for it. Matt is “Mayor” of half the city, and Gavin knows it. Of course it would have been wonderful, for San Francisco, progressive politics, and the Green Party, if Matt had won and been able to put his ideas into place… but there is always tommorrow.
Matt’s “loss” in San Francisco is one more step in the process of transforming politics in America. As long as Greens continue to do better and better in every race they make a serious effort in, continue to build alliances and credibility, continue to slowly but surely secure the support of people who truly give a damn about the future of this planet, we’re “winning” (regardless of the vote totals).
