FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(April 12, 2007, San Francisco) – State Senate candidate Mark Leno on Wednesday won an early endorsement from the San Francisco Young Democrats after besting his opponent, Senator Carole Migden, in a one-on-one debate sponsored by the SFYD and moderated by John Scott, host of 960 AM Quake Radio's Progressive News Hour.

“I am deeply gratified that the SFYD decided to early endorse my candidacy,” said Leno. “The San Francisco Young Democrats is a stellar grassroots organization; they put on a great debate between Senator Migden and me, and I am glad that I have their support as I move forward in this race. “

The two campaigns fiercely contested the SFYD endorsement and both Assemblymember Mark Leno and Senator Carole Migden called SFYD members repeatedly throughout the past two weeks. According to SFYD Club President, Luke Klipp, “I have never seen two politicians vie for our endorsement this way. However, the years of investment Mark Leno has made in developing new, young leadership in the Democratic Party, and the results of Wednesday night's debate ensured that Mark Leno got more than the 60% needed to secure our endorsement. We’re proud to stand by him as he moves forward in his race for state Senate.”

This vote was only the third in a series of grassroots contests between Assemblymember Mark Leno and Senator Carole Migden. To date, the Leno Campaign has prevailed overwhelmingly in each of these three contests. The first was the battle to elect a slate of delegates to the AD 13 Democratic Caucus. The second was the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club’s endorsement. The third was the SFYD debate and its subsequent endorsement.

Highlights of the debate can be seen currently at www.calitics.com and will be available on www.markleno.com.

Contact: Charles Sheehan

Office: 415.615.0311, ext. 21