Leno/Migden Showdown and the New Queer Politics

The fact that State Assemblymember Mark Leno intends to run against State Senator Carole Migden for the Third Senate District seat probably has as much to do with term limits as it does with the fact that he feels he is the best candidate. Leno is playing the new political musical chairs. Supervisor Tom Ammiano, termed out on the Board of Supervisors, is doing the same thing: He’s seeking the seat Leno is vacating. Ammiano has Leno’s blessing. Obviously, Leno doesn’t have Migden’s.

It’s not an issue of creating divisiveness in the community. Queers have run against queers before: Former supervisor Harry Britt opposed Leno in his first bid for Assembly. Lesbian activist Eileen Hansen almost defeated the incumbent Leno for District 8 supervisor. No doubt the city’s queer community will be divided by the Leno/Migden showdown, possibly the way it was during the Willie Brown-Tom Ammiano race for mayor a few years ago. Considering how easily Leno won at the recent election of delegates to the California Democratic Party, there might be less of a divide than anyone imagines. Unless Migden can rally her forces.

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