After Speier jumps into supervisor race, both opponents quit — then a young candidate jumps in

In one fell swoop, both of Jackie Speier’s would-be opponents for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors pulled out of the race today.

Burlingame Councilwoman Emily Beach and Millbrae Councilwoman Gina Papan were vying for the seat of termed out Dave Pine on the five-member board.

Both announced today that they would be suspending their campaigns. The election for this board seat is in November 2024, 14 months from now.

Speier, 73, served as congresswoman from 2008 through early this year. She stepped down in 2022 and endorsed former Assemblyman Kevin Mullin to succeed her. He was elected last fall.

Beach also was in the running for that congressional seat last fall, but didn’t get Speier’s endorsement. Nonetheless, she sounded like a team player in her statement announcing she had suspended her campaign.

“I’m grateful to my incredible supporters who have been at my side through this race and my previous campaigns,” said Beach. “Of course I’m disappointed to leave the race and will miss the opportunity to serve the county. I also want to thank supporters who encouraged me to stay in the race during the last few days. Nonetheless, I know this is the right decision. I am honored to endorse former Congresswoman Speier for the position and encourage my supporters to do the same.”

Speier called Papan this morning to tell her she was indeed running for the open seat on the board of supervisors.

“This was unexpected, but does not deter my commitment to the residents of Millbrae, San Mateo County, and the region,” Papan said. “I greatly respect Congresswoman Speier’s 40 years of service to our community and share her belief in the value of public service.

The same day Papan and Beach pulled out, a virtual unknown entered the race. Jorge Quezada Flores, 23, of Burlingame, is running for the first time. He’s a community volunteer.

“While I respect former Congresswoman Jackie Speier and her years of leadership in California government, I also know that our community deserves a new leader. It is time for San Mateo County to gain that new voice and finally have the representation that our future generations can look forward to,” Quezada Flores said in an email to the Post.