The Bay Area’s Hotly Contested Congressional Races
Airdate: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 9 AM
Some of the Bay Area’s biggest political battles this fall are happening between fellow Democrats in hotly contested races for Congress. There’s a fierce fight for retiring former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s seat in San Francisco. In Napa, where redistricting has shaken up the district, a multimillionaire is courting votes from Republicans and progressives to unseat an establishment fellow Democrat. And in Sacramento, younger progressive challengers are taking on longtime incumbents, raising a bigger question about what Democratic voters value right now: a new generation of leadership, or the experience that comes with years in office? KQED’s politics team joins us to break down the races, the candidates and what to watch heading into Election Day.
Guests:
- Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk
- Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk and co-host of Political Breakdown
- Izzy Bloom, reporter and producer, KQED California Politics & Government Desk