Former Democratic state Sen. Mark Leno made it official -- he’s running for mayor of San Francisco in 2019. Leno filed the papers at City Hall Thursday, surrounded by supporters and the press.
He's the first to toss his hat into the ring in what is expected to be a large field for the open seat -- replacing outgoing Mayor Ed Lee.
Leno’s candidacy was widely anticipated, and he offered a wry smile when asked, "Why now?"
"I could have played coy or equivocated. I know I want to do this. The time is now," Leno said.
Leno said he will run on a progressive platform -- addressing issues such as homelessness, affordability and traffic congestion.