# Castro District 8 race shifts as McCoy and Patel clash

> Gary McCoy's progressive ally Darshini Patel accuses him of shifting values to moderate voters after GrowSF endorsed her.
- Title: Castro District 8 race shifts as McCoy and Patel clash
- Summary: Gary McCoy's progressive ally Darshini Patel accuses him of shifting values to moderate voters after GrowSF endorsed her. Gary McCoy faces accusations from…
- Keywords: castro, district 8, gary mccoy, darshini patel, growsf, manny yekutiel, flock, reset center, seattle, nfl, news, local
- Source: The San Francisco Standard — https://sfstandard.com/2026/10/20/castro-district-8-gary-mccoy-darshini-patel
- Published: 2026-10-21T00:41:25+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: castro, district 8, gary mccoy, darshini patel, growsf, manny yekutiel, flock, reset center, seattle, nfl, news, local
## Castro District 8 race
Gary McCoy and Darshini Patel teamed up to beat Manny Yekutiel in a joint campaign.
## Initial alliance
McCoy and Patel praised each other's strengths on social media, calling each other allies.
## Patel's accusation
Patel claims McCoy shifted from progressive values to moderate appeals after GrowSF endorsed her.
## McCoy's defense
McCoy denies shifting, stating his positions have remained consistent throughout the campaign.
## Yekutiel's exit
Manny Yekutiel dropped out of the race after a second sexual assault allegation.
## GrowSF endorsement
GrowSF endorsed Patel and pledged to spend over six figures against McCoy.
## McCoy's platform
McCoy released a public safety platform praising Mayor Lurie's street conditions and nonprofit accountability.
## RESET Center stance
McCoy supports the RESET Center as a humane alternative to jail but requested a temporary pilot amendment.
## Flock surveillance
McCoy supports Flock surveillance cameras with guardrails but wants significant changes to the system.
## Patel's position
Patel opposes the RESET Center and Flock cameras, citing concerns about drug treatment and privacy.
## GrowSF's reasoning
GrowSF endorsed Patel because she aligns with District 8 voters despite her progressive background.
## Debate coming
A Commonwealth Club debate between McCoy, Patel, and Michael Nguyen is scheduled for Tuesday.
## Patel's stance
Patel says she would still rank McCoy second on ballots but questions the strategy's relevance now.
## Key takeaway

Gary McCoy faces accusations from his ally Darshini Patel that he altered his progressive stance to appeal to moderates after GrowSF endorsed her.