Many of the Brown machine's candidates for district supervisor, especially those in progressive or swing districts, are presenting themselves as independent liberals.
Many voters see the mayor as a liability rather than an asset.
If Brown and his allies can secure their election, these candidates will dance with them that brung them. You can't take the machine's money without adhering to its agenda. Despite Brown's attempt to sabotage the elections with a torrent of soft money, district elections will give him a tough time. What most of them don't have is a lot of money. But for the first time in more than 20 years, good ideas and community support counts for just as much.