Chinese-Americans Are Pushing San Francisco Toward the Political Center

Phil Wong used to reliably back incumbents in this liberal city. But in 2022, he voted to recall three left-wing school board members and a progressive district attorney, and in November he plans to cast his ballot for a tough-on-crime challenger to the current mayor.

“I have a deep love for this city, what it was,” said the 46-year-old son of a Chinese immigrant. “I want to see what it can be again.”

Long a reliable voting bloc for the left, Chinese-Americans have been important drivers of a recent backlash against progressive policies in San Francisco, which has grown in support and been backed by tech industry money.