Five incumbents, two of which were appointed by Mayor Willie Brown, were up for election.

This election was the last using at-large seats, a system that effectively reduces representation of minority points of view.

Subsequent Board of Supervisors elections were to district seats through a plan ratified by the voters in 1996.

Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, though most candidates in San Francisco do receive funding and support from various political parties.

Each voter is allowed to cast at most five votes.