KQED Reporters Scott Shafer and Sydney Johnson will Moderate a Wide-ranging Debate Between the Top Three Frontrunners to Replace Nancy Pelosi’s House Seat
March 3, 2026 – With the retirement of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco’s District 11 will have its first new Congressional representative since 1987. The three leading candidates for the seat will meet live onstage March 31 at the Sydney Goldstein Theater for a high-stakes debate as voters start to focus on the June primary.
San Francisco City Supervisor Connie Chan, former political advisor and software engineer Saikat Chakrabarti, and California State Senator Scott Wiener will present their visions for the future of the city and how they would represent its interests in Washington D.C. at a pivotal political moment.
Jointly hosted by City Arts & Lectures, Commonwealth Club World Affairs, KQED, and Manny’s, the debate will be moderated by KQED’s Scott Shafer and Sydney Johnson and will explore issues facing the city, including housing and affordability, climate policy, immigration, economic inequality, and the role of San Francisco in national politics.
The debate will be broadcast on KQED 9 Public Television and KQED Public Radio in the days following. Look out for scheduling details. For more information about the three candidates and what’s at stake, read Scott Shafer’s primer here.
San Francisco’s Next Congress Member? The Candidates Debate
Hosted by the City Arts & Lectures, Commonwealth Club World Affairs, KQED, and Manny’s
Tuesday, March 31, 2026; 7:30pm
Sydney Goldstein Theater
Tickets available here
*Proceeds from ticket sales will support Vote.org voter registration initiatives; Free tickets available for students and educators with valid ID.
About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source and leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. kqed.org