I was rooting for the green...

SAN FRANCISCO — Gavin Newsom, a 36-year-old millionaire entrepreneur and protege of outgoing mayor Willie Brown, edged out a surprisingly strong Green Party opponent Tuesday night to become the youngest San Francisco mayor in a century.

[...]

The contest between Green Party member and Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez and fellow Supervisor Newsom had become a referendum on politics as usual.

Newsom — a charismatic Democratic Party favorite — campaigned for more than a year as Brown's chosen successor. With all the precincts counted, Newsom won by 52.6% to Gonzalez's 47.4%.

Gonzalez led a vigorous Green Party bid for mayor that drew national attention and had Democratic Party heavyweights scrambling to protect their longtime stronghold. The Democratic strategy worked even though young liberals, disenchanted with Newsom's establishment credentials, flocked to Gonzalez, a candidate who cast himself as a political outsider.

[...]

If Gonzalez had pulled off an upset, he would have become the most prominent elected Green Party official in the United States — claiming a city that has been a Democratic Party stronghold for decades. Democratic Party leaders had responded accordingly. Former President Bill Clinton flew in on a Newsom backer's private plane Monday to address supporters. Former Vice President Al Gore visited last week. And Democratic officials including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, among others, have campaigned aggressively for Newsom.

I can only hope that Democratic pols--across the nation--realize that Gonzalez's strong showing is a sign they better respond to concerns of the party's progressive wing.

Complete story here.