San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder Takes Leave of Absence

Fielder will be absent from City Hall through at least the end of June for personal reasons.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:09pm by Ben Kaplan

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A photorealistic painting of the front of San Francisco City Hall, with the building bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, creating a contemplative, cinematic mood.The stately facade of San Francisco City Hall stands alone, a symbol of civic duty and the personal challenges faced by local leaders.San Francisco Today

San Francisco's Mission District Supervisor Jackie Fielder has requested a leave of absence from the Board of Supervisors from April 7 to June 30, 2026. Fielder cited personal reasons for the leave and asked to continue serving as chair of two board committees upon her return.

Why it matters

Fielder's leave of absence comes after she checked herself into a hospital for mental health reasons in March. Her decision to take an extended leave rather than resign has been supported by her board colleagues and the local community.

The details

In a letter to the Board of Supervisors clerk and president, Fielder requested to be excused from board meetings during her leave. She asked to continue serving as chair of two board committees when she returns. Fielder has been absent from board meetings since mid-March.

  • Fielder checked herself into a hospital for mental health reasons in mid-March 2026.
  • Fielder initially said she would resign on March 27, 2026.
  • Two days later, Fielder's staff said she would stay in office and seek an extended leave of absence instead.
  • Fielder's leave of absence will be from April 7 to June 30, 2026.

The players

Jackie Fielder

San Francisco's Mission District Supervisor who is taking a leave of absence from the Board of Supervisors.

Rafael Mandelman

President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Daniel Lurie

Mayor of San Francisco.

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What’s next

Fielder's leave of absence will last through at least the end of June 2026. She will continue to serve as chair of two board committees upon her return.

The takeaway

Fielder's decision to take an extended leave of absence rather than resign has been supported by her colleagues and the local community, highlighting the difficulty in removing sitting supervisors from office in San Francisco.