U.S. House of Representatives, District 11
Why does this race matter?
After 39 years representing the city in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi is retiring when her term ends at the end of this year. It is the first time no incumbent is running in this district since Pelosi was first elected in 1987. This congressional district includes all of San Francisco, except for a small southeastern section left out to balance the total population.
What does a U.S. representative do?
Representatives are your local community’s voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. Members of Congress write and vote on bills, including the federal budget. The top two finishers in this primary election, regardless of party, will face off in the November election. The winner will serve a two-year term.
Key Candidates
This list represents the most notable candidates running for the seat.
Saikat ChakrabartiFormer software engineer and former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezDemocrat
Connie ChanSupervisor, San Francisco Democrat
Marie HurabiellFormer chair, Presidio Trust Board of DirectorsDemocrat
Scott WienerState senator Democrat
Positions on Key Issues
Candidate summaries are based on interviews with the candidates, questionnaires, statements made at debates and public events, and past news coverage.
What achievable steps do you support to make healthcare more accessible and affordable?
Chakrabarti says it’s imperative to pass “Medicare for All” — expanding government subsidized coverage now available to Americans 65 years and older — by 2028. To do it, he says “we're gonna have to change Democratic Party leadership, and I'm the only one willing to do that.” Chakrabarti says he’ll organize a progressive caucus to make sure no budget or increased debt ceiling is passed until all cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies are restored.
Chan pledges to affirm and expand the “continuum of care that is currently covered by Medicaid and that actually provides subsidies to housing.” Chan wants “to allow Medicaid to be able to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies to lower and negotiate the drug prices.” Chan also pledges to “make sure that Medicaid will continue to cover and expand coverage for reproductive care and gender-affirming care.”
Hurabiell says Congress must restore Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, cap insulin and prescription drug costs, create a viable public option and expand Medi-Cal outreach to uninsured Californians. “I'll fight to lower out-of-pocket costs for families and protect coverage for preexisting conditions,” she says. “Healthcare isn't a luxury — it's a foundation for economic security.”
Wiener says healthcare is one of the “absolute drivers of the cost-of-living crisis and the level of medical bankruptcies in this country because of this broken, disjointed system where people fall through the cracks.” Wiener authored SB 41, legislation regulating pharmacy benefit managers — “middlemen who are driving up prescription drug costs.” Wiener also wants to force insurance companies to actually cover things like mental health and addiction services.
Should we abolish or reform the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE?
Chakrabarti says “I've been calling to abolish ICE since 2017.” He adds: “ICE is Trump's personal paramilitary force. ICE is not an immigration enforcement agency; it is a terror agency. And not only do we need to abolish ICE, we have to hold these ICE agents accountable.” He says he will not vote for any budget “unless we claw back the $75 billion that we gave to ICE and restore Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act subsidies.”
Chan criticizes the large ICE budget. “When we invest in our community, when it comes to healthcare and education, and so many more safety nets that people can count on, we do have a better community," she says. "I say that it is also time when we talk about ICE and immigration, it is to invest in a pathway to citizenship, to invest in the immigrant community. It is not to invest in illegal killing on our street.”
Hurabiell says there must be “reform, not abolition,” adding that “ICE must be held accountable — ending abusive practices, restoring due process and refocusing resources on genuine public safety threats. But eliminating border enforcement entirely isn't a serious solution. We need smart, humane immigration enforcement paired with a real pathway to citizenship for the millions already contributing to our communities.”
Wiener says "we should abolish ICE. I called for that in 2018, and I believe it's true today. But it's not just about abolishing ICE, it's about having a completely different immigration system where it's not just a terror campaign.” Wiener authored a state law banning ICE agents from wearing face coverings. A federal judge struck down that ban, but Wiener says he would promote a nationwide ban if elected to Congress.
In light of its policies in Gaza and the West Bank, should the United States reconsider sending military support to Israel?
Chakrabarti says “it is not only morally reprehensible for us to continue funding [genocide], but it is against our own laws, and it's actually against international law.” He opposes “sending any military funding to Israel, offensive or defensive, because if you send them money for defensive weapons, they can use it for offensive weapons.” He also supports sanctions on the Israeli leaders because “we have a moral obligation to stop this genocide.”
Chan says it is clear that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that “the United States should not play a role in that. We need to stop and halt that funding.” She says the U.S. should “hold the Israeli government accountable and (prioritize) humanitarian aid.” On whether the U.S. should give any military aid to Israel, Chan says only “there should be no offensive military weapons funding to the Israeli government.”
Hurabiell says “Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, a terrorist organization. I support conditioning military aid on compliance with international humanitarian law and a credible ceasefire pathway. The U.S. must use its leverage to protect civilian lives, push for a two-state solution and stand firmly against actions that undermine lasting peace.”
Wiener says he supports Israel’s anti-missile defense system but opposes funding offensive weapons. “Israel has a right to defend itself. (But) it went quickly beyond self-defense and inflicted a level of catastrophic destruction in Gaza that I do believe constituted a genocide. I will not support U.S. funding for the destruction of Palestinian communities,” a policy he describes as “a move towards ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.”
Key Supporters
This list represents notable organizations and individuals who have taken a position on the ballot measure or candidate, or who are funding campaigns in support or opposition. This list is not exhaustive, and may be updated.
For Chakrabarti
- Matt Gonzalez, chief deputy public defender, San Francisco
- California College Democrats
- Healthcare for All – California
- Justice Democrats
For Chan
- Willie Brown, former mayor, San Francisco
- Adam Schiff, U.S. senator
- San Francisco Firefighters, Local 798
- SEIU California
For Hurabiell
- Michela Alioto-Pier, former supervisor, San Francisco
- Quentin L. Kopp, former supervisor, state senator and judge
- Jeff Reisig, district attorney, Yolo CountyChinese American Democratic Club
For Wiener
- Rob Bonta, attorney general, California
- David Chiu, city attorney, San FranciscoCalifornia Democratic Party
- National Union of Healthcare Workers
Additional Candidates
John "Gus" BufflerRocket scientistDemocrat
Nathan DeerHomeowners association treasurerNo Party Preference. Immunologist who says “articles of impeachment should be drawn up for every single member of the [Trump] administration.”
Keith FreedmanSmall business ownerDemocrat
David GanezerNewspaper publisherRepublican. Santa Monica-based publisher of the Santa Monica Observer.
Omed HamidTechnology advocateDemocrat. Founder of the crowdsourcing platform Kabulay.
Gregory HaynesCivil rights advocateDemocrat
Jingchao XiongSocial management scientistRepublican. Previously ran in the 2024 primary for state Senate, district 11.
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