San Francisco Congressional Race Highlights Progressive Divide

Candidates Wiener, Chan, and Chakrabarti make their case to Working Families Party

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In a forum hosted by the Working Families Party, the three leading candidates vying to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress - State Sen. Scott Wiener, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, and former AOC staffer Saikat Chakrabarti - all sought to establish their progressive credentials. The event saw the candidates face tough questions on issues like housing, taxes, and their past political donations and endorsements.

Why it matters

The race to fill Pelosi's seat has become a proxy battle for the ideological direction of the Democratic party in San Francisco, with the Working Families Party pressing the candidates on their commitment to a bold progressive agenda. The outcome could shift the balance of power within the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The details

Chakrabarti faced scrutiny over past donations to moderate candidates, while Wiener was grilled on his positions on issues like the Israel-Gaza conflict and a proposed transit tax measure. Chan defended her opposition to certain urbanist policies like upzoning, citing concerns over small business and tenant displacement. All three candidates sought to position themselves as the most progressive choice, underscoring the competitive nature of the race.

  • The Working Families Party forum took place on February 9, 2026.
  • The top two vote-getters in the June 2 'jungle primary' will advance to the November 3 general election.

The players

Scott Wiener

A California State Senator who is running to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress. Wiener has a mixed record on progressive issues, supporting some measures like transit funding while opposing others like expanded rent control.

Connie Chan

A San Francisco District 1 Supervisor who is also running for Pelosi's congressional seat. Chan is generally considered part of the city's progressive wing, though she has opposed some urbanist policies like upzoning.

Saikat Chakrabarti

A former staffer for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and tech multi-millionaire who is running for Congress. Chakrabarti has faced questions about past donations to moderate candidates.

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What they’re saying

“When it comes to Michael, that was an oversight on my part. A 'former' friend from the Bernie Sanders campaign worked on Lai's campaign, and recommended that Chakrabarti donate.”

— Saikat Chakrabarti, Congressional Candidate (Mission Local)

“The word 'genocide' is a very sensitive one, and the community is very divided on it, and for a lot of people it is very raw. But ultimately I chose to use the word genocide and I stand by that.”

— Scott Wiener, State Senator and Congressional Candidate (Mission Local)

“That is the reason why I was really hoping that I could get support to amend the zoning plan, to fight against real estate, speculative investments and displacement.”

— Connie Chan, District 1 Supervisor and Congressional Candidate (Mission Local)

What’s next

The top two vote-getters in the June 2 'jungle primary' will advance to the November 3 general election.

The takeaway

The race to succeed Nancy Pelosi in Congress has become a battleground for the Democratic party's progressive wing, with the candidates vying to position themselves as the most committed to a bold left-wing agenda. The outcome could have significant implications for the ideological balance of power in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.