This November has seen some fascinating and shocking election results. The Federal election saw Donald Trump making a momentous political comeback becoming the second-ever U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms. Another relatively unexpected result happened close to home in the SF mayoral election. Fellow “Anti Corruption and Anti Establishment” candidate Daniel Lurie is to become the San Francisco mayor. Similarly to Trump, Lurie had no political experience before their first big role and is from a well-known family outside of politics.
In January, Trump is not coming to Washington alone, he is bringing Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk. Despite having no previous government experience, these two are tasked with leading a new and somewhat ambiguous department called the Department of Government Efficiency or “DOGE”. Musk and Ramaswamy are both vocal supporters of not only Trump but rooting out Bureaucratic corruption that Washington is allegedly drowning in. Comparatively, Daniel Lurie used the fact that all his opponents had previously held office as a way to paint them as corrupt city hall insiders. In Trump’s first campaign, he ridiculed and berated Hillary Clinton for her long career in government, but lack of accomplishments. He later used the same strategy against Joe Biden, but to little to no avail. However, despite his time in the shadows, Trump’s anti-establishment message has been echoed throughout Biden’s turbulent presidency. After a questionable first term and a very controversial time as a “Lame Duck”, he has been chosen to lead the country in times of global tension.
Despite similarities, Daniel Lurie and Donald Trump are still very different candidates. While Trump and his MAGA agenda are very far right while Lurie is solidly a Democrat. Furthermore, Lurie’s approach to corrupt government is implementing a new and efficient government. Despite being called the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have clarified that they intend to cut down the government whether it be spending or how many unelected officials. A stylistic difference between the two is how Lurie is very polished in the political scene and prefers not to go off script while Trump’s campaign is starting to acknowledge the success of the “let Trump be Trump” strategy.
Junior Garrett Hoffman said, “Lurie is going to get police and social workers to help with the people doing drugs”. In contrast, Junior Benny Moosbruger said “Trump wants to get rid of everything that helps, he’s not empathetic”.
Garrett was referring to Lurie’s plan to restaff the police department and employ social workers to address the homelessness and drug problems San Francisco is facing. Benny was referring to Trump’s stance against welfare for underprivileged groups and his belief that these are simply “handouts”.
Looking at it from the surface level, Trump and Lurie seem incredibly similar. However, when carefully analyzed on their belief behind their main platform one can see they have vastly different solutions and reasons.