Holy shit. This is the first open congressional race in our political lives (and for some of us, our ACTUAL ENTIRE LIVES). Sending a capable progressive to Washington will ensure that SF gets our share of federal funds, and install another sane activist to help fight the good fight for the whole country. 

There are three leading candidates in this top-two primary: State Senator Scott Wiener, New Kid on the Block Saikat Chakrabarti, and District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan. 

We are proud to endorse Connie Chan for Congress! Connie immigrated with her family to SF’s Chinatown as a child, cut her teeth as a community organizer, and then worked her way up in politics, maintaining her commitment to social justice the whole way. As District 1 Supervisor, she’s been a champion for renters, small businesses, seniors, and working families in the Richmond. As a smart and thorough Budget Chair, Connie has prioritized vital city services amidst the call to slash spending, and found money to stave off the worst local impacts of Trump’s cuts to health care and food benefits. She has launched progressive initiatives that can be a model for the country: overseeing free City College, funding public transportation and affordable housing, defending tenants and immigrants, protecting the social safety net, and taxing the goddamn billionaires (see Prop D (#PropD)).

Connie’s got a long list of endorsements, especially from progressive labor unions, who are key allies in the coalition to bring power to working families, and who will help her to win. While Connie’s first order of business would be working with other progressive reps to block Trump’s harmful cuts and evil policies, it’s her vision for what government can do for everyday people that we're really excited about.

Scott Wiener is terrible (see every (https://www.theleaguesf.org/Nov_2014#Wiener) voter (https://www.theleaguesf.org/june_2016#Wiener) guide (https://www.theleaguesf.org/march_2020#Wiener) ever (https://www.theleaguesf.org/nov_2020_real#Wiener)). 

Saikat Chakrabarti is new to San Francisco politics, but he worked on Bernie’s campaign in 2016 and ran Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign in 2018, before doing a brief stint as her Chief of Staff in DC. (AOC has rather pointedly not endorsed him in this race.) Before entering politics, Saikat made boatloads of money in tech, and currently runs a national progressive think tank. As a candidate, his focus is on strengthening the national Democratic Party to stand up to Trump, and supporting reforms that will clean up dirty politics in Washington. We are 100% on board with all  that, but Saikat doesn’t have much to say about San Francisco’s specific needs—and he doesn’t have specific ties to communities here that will keep him accountable if elected (and actually, we’re concerned about the ways he has shown up in local politics—mainly through donations to defeat progressives (https://www.phoenixprojectnow.com/phoenix-review/blog/the-mystery-of-saikat-chakrabarti) in recent Supervisor races). It kinda sounds like he could be running this same campaign anywhere: nice ideology, no grassroots activism, just a lot of money to hire canvassers and buy ads. 

But it’s unclear that Saikat’s millions will buy him a victory in the primary, and it’s even less clear that he would win in November without the support of the labor unions and community groups that are backing Chan (and may not throw down for a wealthy tech bro). If Saikat ends up being on the ballot in November we’ll reassess. But for now, It’s a no-brainer: Connie Chan is the only candidate who can beat Scott Wiener* in November and bring San Francisco values to Congress. Let’s send Connie Chan to DC!

Uh oh! According to a news report (https://sfstandard.com/2026/04/30/lurie-s-top-campaign-consultant-departs-political-group-growsf/), Chakrabarti's campaign has provided their paid canvassers with a script (https://assets.nationbuilder.com/theleaguesf/pages/458/attachments/original/1777735220/saikat-canvas-script.jpeg?1777735220) that implies that voters could rank vote both Saikat and Connie Chan to avoid a Wiener victory. This is misleading. The race for Congress is not ranked choice, and marking a #2 candidate will invalidate your vote.

Vote Connie Chan, and only Connie Chan, for Congress!

*Curious why Scott Wiener is terrible? Click through to read our previous (https://www.theleaguesf.org/Nov_2014#Wiener) voter (https://www.theleaguesf.org/june_2016#Wiener) guide (https://www.theleaguesf.org/march_2020#Wiener) writeups (https://www.theleaguesf.org/nov_2020_real#Wiener), but basically: he’s madly pro-cop, (https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/27/scott-wiener-sfpd-cops-union-nancy-pelosi/)  pro-developer, (https://sftu.org/2020/01/16/scott-wiener-takes-more-real-estate-money-than-any-other-politician-in-the-california-legislature/) pro-YIMBY (trickle-down housing (https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/scott-wiener-sf-housing-debates-family-zoning-plan/article_14b8ccb6-d38e-4c5f-8675-50837ae94118.html)) with a gloss of pro-LGBTQ pinkwashing (https://www.instagram.com/p/DAhFdORzC8Q/). Oh, and Weiner lost the California SEIU endorsement because he opposes Prop D, the Overpaid CEO tax (#PropD).

Source (https://www.theleaguesf.org/blog#CD11)

This race is one of the most consequential San Francisco has seen in a generation. With Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi retiring after nearly four decades, this seat is open for the first time in the political lives of most San Francisco voters. SFWPC does not take lightly the responsibility of recommending who should carry the progressive, feminist legacy of this district to Washington. We considered all three major Democratic candidates carefully and respectfully.

Chan embodies SFWPC’s commitment to champion policies that advance intersectional feminism, racial justice, gender equity, and equitable systems and structures. She embodies these values not as talking points, but as a documented legislative record built in San Francisco. Since her election to the Board of Supervisors in 2020, she has raised awareness of hate crimes against Asian Americans, advocated for affordable housing, and strengthened tenants’ rights — all priorities we champion.

Her record on economic security for women is unmatched in this field. Chan has pushed for skilled and trained labor in all public works and affordable housing projects, passed legislation to strengthen the Union at Home program, co-sponsored eviction protections, restored funding for single-room occupancy residents, and secured living wages – with guaranteed cost-of-living adjustments – for in-home support service and healthcare workers. These are women’s issues. These are our issues.

In a City categorized by political “camps,” Chan’s demonstrated ability to collaborate across ideological lines is a welcome sign. As Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, Chan worked with Mayor Lurie to create a $400 million reserve to defend against Trump administration cuts to social services like Medi-Cal and Medicaid, secured $3.5 million in additional aid for immigration protections, and delivered $15 million for free summer camps for K-8 public school students – investments that disproportionately relieve burdens carried by women and families, and directly counter federal takeaways.

We understand that Connie has room to grow in terms of knowledge of federal policy in comparison to her competitors. However, her robust local record informs our trust in her judgment. If elected, Chan would become the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in Congress. In the era of Trump 2.0, that representation matters more than ever. We have also seen many women term out or retire from office only to be replaced by men. While many of these men are our allies, this trend is notable and alarming, particularly at the federal level, in an era where women’s rights are actively being eroded. We are strongly recommending our membership vote for Connie Chan.

SFWPC has deep respect for Senator Wiener and values the relationship we have built with him over many years. He has been a genuine ally on LGBTQ+ rights, has authored a significant amount of meaningful legislation, and spoken out on issues we care about, including holding people in public life accountable for violence against women. We do not make this recommendation lightly.

While his local and state record is unmatched in this race, we have concerns regarding our alignment on federal policy, particularly in regards to the genocide in Gaza.

Saikat Chakrabarti has been a welcome addition to this race, with genuine progressive priorities in recent months. We appreciate his willingness to engage with our community and his clear positioning on Gaza and economic justice. He is a compelling figure. Ultimately,  his lack of visibility and strong connections to this City at either the elected or advocate level compared to his competitors raises questions regarding his positioning in Congress in terms of the tech community from which he comes vs the needs of working people here now.

Source (https://sfwpc.org/pac-recommendations-for-june-2026-election/)

After nearly 39 years in office, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement from Congress last year. She is a huge act to follow, but we know that Connie Chan is up to the challenge. As an immigrant who was raised in San Francisco's Chinatown, Connie understands all too well the day-to-day struggles of working San Franciscans. She was called to service, first as an interpreter for her community, then a community organizer. She has served our city to develop equitable policies at every level of local government, and in her current role on the Board of Supervisors, she has fought for deeply affordable housing, to protect small businesses, and uphold worker and tenant's rights. While running for Supervisor, she has beat back billionaire-funded astroturf PACs, not just once, but twice! As Budget Chair, she's ensured that community organizations serving the most vulnerable San Franciscans have had a seat at the table. We have no doubt that she'll continue that fearless advocacy in Washington, D.C.

Source (https://www.milkclub.org/endorsements)

Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) has proudly endorsed Marie Hurabiell for Congress.  Marie is a pragmatic leader who brings a common-sense approach to making government more accountable and efficient. She stood with CADC during critical moments, including the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin and opposing Prop K. Having interned in Nancy Pelosi’s congressional office and later serving as a federally appointed trustee, she understands how to navigate government and deliver results. As the organizer of the 30,000-member ConnectedSF and an early supporter of Daniel Lurie, she has championed clean streets and safer neighborhoods. Marie prioritizes affordability by tackling rising energy costs and government waste, while advancing AI security and exploring Universal Basic Income. We believe she will be an effective voice for our community.

Source (https://www.sfcadc.org/6_2_26_endorsement_partial)

The Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) endorses Connie Chan for Congress. We believe this moment calls for a Chinese American representative who can carry our community’s voice and lived experiences to Washington, D.C. Connie brings a collaborative, ground-up approach to governance, with a focus on protecting the infrastructure and cultural fabric of multigenerational families and immigrant enclaves in neighborhoods like the Richmond and Sunset, while stepping up the work to address key concerns such as public safety and clean streets. In contrast to top-down proposals such as Proposition K and sweeping zoning changes, Connie Chan supports community-driven solutions that reflect neighborhood needs. We believe she will be an effective voice for our community in Congress.

Source (https://www.sfcadc.org/6_2_26_endorsement_partial)

The race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress is a rare, and critical, political event in San Francisco. The next member of Congress will likely be there for decades and have a huge influence not just on national policy but on local politics.

Pelosi decided early in her career that she wanted to move into leadership, and her constituency quickly became the national Democratic Party, not the voters of San Francisco. She became the first woman speaker, helped build Democratic majorities, and largely stayed out of San Francisco issues.

She also privatized the Presidio, leaving what should have been part of the National Park Service vulnerable to Trump’s attack.

We are looking for a representative who will take progressive stands in Congress, who will work for taxes on the rich, reductions in military spending, money for social housing, basic civil rights for all, including immigrants and trans people, and so much more. The Democrats may win a majority this fall, and Trump will be gone two years later; there’s a huge agenda to repair the damage he has done and rebuild a country nearly destroyed by economic inequality.

We also want a member of Congress who will help build, expand, and promote progressive politics back here at home, someone who will endorse, support, and raise money for candidates and ballot measures that advance the progressive agenda.

Three serious candidates are in the race. Our clear choice is Connie Chan.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, who has the citywide name recognition and huge amounts of money from Big Tech and Real Estate, likes to talk about how he would be a San Francisco liberal in Congress, and on a lot of social issues, he would be fine. But on economic issues, he represents the dangerous, losing, and ineffective side of the Democratic Party, the neoliberals who argue that free market solutions can address things like housing affordability and that taxing the rich is too hard and too divisive.

As a supervisor, he sided with landlords over tenants. As a state legislator, he has been the champion and darling of the YIMBYs, pushing legislation that deregulates housing and gives private for-profit developers huge breaks. He has ignored all the evidence that the free market won’t solve this problem, and has given big breaks to developers by eliminating affordable housing requirements for luxury projects. He’s also freely and actively used his influence to elect corporate Democrats to local office.

That’s not a good sign for our next member of Congress.

Saikat Chakrabarti talks about all the right things. He made millions in tech, as did plenty of others, but now argues that rich people like him should pay more taxes. He was an early supporter of AOC and her first chief of staff. He also worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders. All good reasons to support him.

But he also spent thousands of dollars helping the corporate Democrats take over the local party, and his money helped neoliberal Bilal Mahmood defeat the city’s only democratic socialist supervisor, Dean Preston. When we and others have asked about that, he talks about his friendship with Mahmood, and at points called him a “progressive.” That demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of how local politics works in San Francisco.

In every ad and every statement, he makes, he hypes his connections to AOC and Sanders. Neither of them has endorsed him. That says something. So does the fact that not one legitimate local progressive organization has endorsed him.

We appreciate Chakrabarti’s national agenda, but we want a member of Congress who will work to build the progressive movement in San Francisco, and his record suggests he’s not that person. In fact, he has supported candidates who have sought to undermine the progressive movement.

Sup. Connie Chan has a long record in San Francisco. In the past few years, as the chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Chan has almost single handedly protected services for tens of thousands of people. She is by far the most pro-labor member of the board, and one of the most pro-labor politicians in San Francisco.

She’s also a Chinese immigrant—and electing her in the Trump Era would send a strong message that San Francisco will not support attacks on the immigrant community.

Chan has a strong progressive track record in public office. Wiener has a record of favoring landlords and Big Tech. Chakrabarti has no record in office.

We are happy to endorse Connie Chan for Congress.

Source (https://www.sfbg.com/2026/05/06/endorsements-for-the-june-2-election/)

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Working Families Party (CAWFP) is endorsing San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress in the 11th District, which covers nearly all of San Francisco. Chan is an accomplished leader who is ready to take on corporate power and deliver for working families in her district and around the country.

San Franciscans are looking to CAWFP to elevate the candidate who best represents their values and will be a fighter for them in Congress. Chan was chosen by CAWFP’s state committee in a highly competitive process which included two public events with candidates. Each of the question and answer sessions were attended by more than 1,000 people in person and online.

“At this high stakes moment in our country, it was critical that we fill this storied Congressional seat with someone who puts working families first,” said Jorge Contreras, Interim State Director of the California Working Families Party. “Through her leadership on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to her steadfast commitment to make our community open and affordable to all, Connie Chan is the real working families party champion in this race.”

“Working families are being hit hard by high costs, economic inequality, and the cruel policies of Donald Trump. I am running for Congress for people who have been shut out and pushed down for too long,” said Supervisor Connie Chan. “I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Working Families Party. We need to do more than oppose Trump – we need to build a country where every person can thrive and that’s what the WFP has always fought for.”

In endorsing Connie Chan, California Working Families Party joins with major labor organizations who announced their support this week including the National Nurses United, San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798, San Francisco Building and Trades Council and AFT 2121 representing educators at City College of San Francisco.

In the 2026 electoral cycle, CAWFP has already endorsed Randy Villegas (CA-22) and Mai Vang (CA-7) for the US House of Representatives, Jane Kim for California Insurance Commissioner, and more than 30 candidates (https://workingfamilies.org/state/california/) for the California State Legislature, city and county councils, and other offices around the state.

CAWFP is committed to a significant districtwide organizing effort. CAWFP and partners will knock doors, engage voters face-to-face, and communicate directly with communities throughout the district, building the grassroots infrastructure needed not only to win on Election Day, but to govern effectively afterward.

Source (https://workingfamilies.org/2026/02/california-wfp-endorses-connie-chan-for-congress/)

AROC Action is proud to jointly endorse Saikat Chakrabarti and Connie Chan in the CA-11 congressional race. At a time of deep crisis for our communities here and in our homelands, we believe both candidates can offer critical leadership aligned with progressive values. Saikat Chakrabarti and Connie Chan represent a significant improvement to the failed and regressive policies being advanced by State Senator Scott Wiener and other rightwing-backed candidates. Our endorsement is grounded in AROC Action’s six core values:

Palestine Solidarity

AROC Action has been clear that any candidate we support must stand for the liberation of the Palestinian people and the end of Israeli impunity in the ongoing genocide against our people. This includes an immediate end to all U.S. weapons support to Israel, comprehensive sanctions, and a reversal of anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic legislation that has plagued our communities and movements for decades. On these issues, Saikat Chakrabarti has demonstrated particular clarity and consistency on Palestine solidarity, forcefully calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and condemning both government intransigence and the attempts by many politicians to evade accountability by singling out Netanyahu - a Prime Minister elected seven times - instead of the apartheid Israeli state as a whole. Connie Chan too has expressed support for holding Israel accountable, blocking all arms shipments, and reversing punitive legislation like anti-BDS laws and AB715.

Local Action

Both candidates understand that local governance is deeply intertwined with global justice. Connie Chan brings a strong track record of delivering on local issues, from housing, public services to workers’ rights, and has shown an ability to navigate and win at the municipal level. Saikat Chakrabarti brings a vision that connects local struggles to national and global systems, highlighting how federal policy shapes the conditions of our communities.

Community Defense

At a time when SWANA communities and Palestine advocates face increased surveillance, repression, and criminalization, we need leaders who will defend our right to organize and speak out. Both candidates have recognized the urgency of protecting civil liberties, standing against political repression, and protecting people’s right to protest and resist government repression and warmongering.

Building Unity

Our communities are diverse and multifaceted. We value leadership that brings people together across differences. Connie Chan’s experience in coalition-building at the local level and Saikat Chakrabarti’s movement-oriented approach both point toward the kind of leadership needed to build durable, people-powered unity.

Uplifting All

We prioritize candidates who center those most marginalized: working-class people, immigrants, women, and gender non-conforming communities. Both candidates have articulated commitments to economic justice, housing access, and inclusive governance that reflect this value.

Bridging Solidarity

Our struggles are interconnected, and we seek partners who understand that. Both candidates have demonstrated a willingness to engage across movements and build coalitions that extend beyond a single issue or community, and a willingness to listen to and learn from these same communities.

Looking Ahead: Two Good Options and One Dangerous One

AROC Action is clear about the stakes of this race. Saikat and Connie, like all candidates, are not perfect candidates, and we have concerns about specific aspects of their pasts, their positions, and their funding. Nevertheless, we do not see this election as a referendum on political purity. Either candidate would be a significant leap forward in bringing a progressive, anti-war, anti-racist, working class orientation to represent San Francisco interests on the national stage. We would be lucky to have either one. Given this, it is absolutely critical that if one or the other candidate advances to the general election, we as a movement must consolidate behind them to beat State Senator Scott Wiener. Wiener represents a serious danger to our communities and movements, particularly given his track record on opposing the ceasefire in Gaza, dismissal of issues impacting marginalized communities, and his alignment with policies and politicians that undermine our collective safety and dignity.

For this reason, we call on our members and allies to unite behind whichever of our endorsed candidates advances to the general election. Building the power to defeat Scott Wiener, and the Democratic stagnation that has failed to respond this authoritarian crisis, will require broad, disciplined unity across our base.

Source (https://arocaction.org/endorsements)