Sanders backs Jane Kim in state Senate race, and dollars roll in

Jane Kim during District 11 State Senatorial debate at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. Jane Kim during District 11 State Senatorial debate at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Sanders backs Jane Kim in state Senate race, and dollars roll in 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders took a giant step into San Francisco politics Tuesday, endorsing Supervisor Jane Kim in the wide-open contest for the city’s state Senate seat.

The endorsement — and his email blast asking his supporters to send money to Kim — instantly started the cash flowing.

“The response has been incredible,” said Eric Jaye, a consultant for Kim’s campaign for the 11th state Senate District seat. “The phones started leaping off the hook (Tuesday) morning as soon as he sent the message out to his donors.”

By early afternoon, nearly 1,000 people had given more than $25,000 to Kim, Jaye said.

The money is welcome. Kim, the progressive’s choice in the race to replace termed-out state Sen. Mark Leno, has been outraised more than 2-to-1 this year by her more moderate opponent, Supervisor Scott Wiener. On April 23, the end of the most recent state financial reporting period, Wiener had just under $800,000 in the bank, compared with about $360,000 for Kim.

Kim was one of eight state Legislature candidates across the country the Vermont senator endorsed Tuesday.

“Bernie believes that the path toward bold change requires leaders to take back control of state capitols around the country and ensure fair redistricting in 2020,” Jeff Weaver, the senator’s campaign manager, said in a statement. “The leaders we’re raising money for today are the members of Congress, senators and presidential candidates of tomorrow.”

Kim and Wiener are both Democrats, as is Leno, the man they seek to replace.

Sanders described Kim as the first Korean American to be elected in San Francisco, the daughter of immigrants and “a civil rights attorney who’s fought for affordable housing and fair wages in her city.”

While the announcement was made Tuesday, Sanders agreed to endorse Kim when the pair met at a Sanders rally in Vallejo last week, Jaye said.

“The pair connected over the issue of free community college for all, which Jane has worked for,” he added.

But support from Sanders isn’t likely to change much in the state Senate race, said Maggie Muir, a spokeswoman for Wiener.

“Congrats to Jane,” she said in a statement. “But let’s remember that those who live in and work for the Bay Area are overwhelmingly supporting Scott Wiener,” including Leno, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

The June 7 primary election is probably just a warm-up for the two supervisors. Kim and Wiener are expected to be the top two finishers in that vote, setting up a November rematch.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: jfwildermuth