San Francisco Mayor Lurie Focuses on Democratic Allies in Washington

Lurie did not meet with any Republican officials during his trip to the nation's capital.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:47pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for more federal funding and support for the city, but did not connect with any Republican policymakers during his two-day trip. Lurie met with Democratic senators and other Democratic mayors, emphasizing the impact of federal funding cuts on San Francisco's budget and pushing for the cleanup of the Hunter Points Naval Shipyard.

Why it matters

Lurie's decision to focus on Democratic allies in Washington reflects the growing partisan divide in national politics, as the mayor seeks to secure federal resources for his city without engaging with the Republican-controlled government. This highlights the challenges that Democratic-led cities face in navigating the current political landscape in the nation's capital.

The details

During his trip, Lurie met with California's Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, as well as other Democratic mayors, to discuss issues like the city's budget deficit and the long-delayed cleanup of the Hunter Points Naval Shipyard. He said he would be willing to meet with anyone who wants to help San Francisco, regardless of party affiliation, but his schedule did not include any meetings with Republican officials or the Trump administration.

  • Mayor Lurie traveled to Washington, D.C. on January 27-28, 2026.
  • Lurie met with California's Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla during his trip.

The players

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco who traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for more federal funding and support for the city.

Adam Schiff

A Democratic senator from California who met with Mayor Lurie during his trip to Washington.

Alex Padilla

A Democratic senator from California who met with Mayor Lurie during his trip to Washington.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My days have been plenty full. I wouldn't have been opposed, and maybe that's just who our team knows these days and who are willing to sit down with me.”

— Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco (San Francisco Chronicle)

“The federal government owes that to San Francisco. So we pushed that a lot yesterday.”

— Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Lurie said he would be willing to meet with anyone, regardless of party affiliation, who wants to help San Francisco, indicating he may reach out to Republican officials in the future.

The takeaway

Mayor Lurie's decision to focus his Washington trip on Democratic allies reflects the partisan divide in national politics, as the mayor seeks federal resources for his city without engaging with the Republican-controlled government. This highlights the challenges that Democratic-led cities face in navigating the current political landscape in the nation's capital.