Four candidates hoping to fill the seat of retiring Representative Nancy Pelosi participated in a debate held in San Francisco on Wednesday evening.

A Historic Transition

California’s 11th Congressional District is open after Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement after 39 years in Congress, including eight as Speaker of the House. The debate, sponsored by the Sunset Heights Association of Responsible People and other community groups, provided a platform for candidates to address voters.

Voter Perspectives

Approximately 200 San Francisco residents attended the two-hour debate at the San Francisco Hall of Flowers. Attendees expressed a desire to understand the candidates and their plans for the district.

“To learn about the candidates. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an open seat here, so I want to do my civic duty and understand the options out here,” said attendee Colin Higgins.

Kate Hanrahan added, “Nancy has had the seat for 38 years. It’s big, big, big shoes to fill, and I want to make sure I vote for the right candidate.”

Candidates Weigh In

While 11 candidates are officially running, only four were invited to participate in the debate at the Hall of Flowers, a decision that frustrated candidate Omed Hamid.

“All 11 of us should have appeared here so the people, so the San Franciscans have a chance to say, we want this person to be in the primary,” Hamid stated.

Key Candidate Statements

State Senator Scott Wiener highlighted his accomplishments, saying, “I have worked incredibly hard for this community and I have delivered on housing, on healthcare access, on clean energy.”

SF Supervisor Connie Chan emphasized continuity, stating, “When Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided not to run for reelection, we said it is time that we stand up and see what we can do to continue to build on her legacy for San Francisco.”

Lawyer and community activist Marie Hurabiell emphasized her grassroots involvement: “I’m not an elected official. I have been doing this because I care about this city. Six-and-a-half years, I have been on the ground floor of every major positive movement in this city.”

Software engineer Saikat Chakrabarti, a former staff member for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, advocated for systemic change: “There are insurgent candidates running all over the country challenging the establishment, and they’re winning. And, right now we have a chance to change the system.”

Priorities and Platforms

Each candidate outlined their key priorities. Wiener focused on infrastructure and affordability, stating, “Huge focus for me will be investing in our public transportation. I will also focus intensively on reducing the cost of housing and make sure the government is funding the mixed housing that we need.”

Chan pledged to secure federal funding for San Francisco: “As a freshman, my job will be combing through appropriation bills and making sure of there is anything that is truly benefiting that we can bring back to San Francisco. That’s what we will do.”

Hurabiell prioritized affordability and public safety, saying, “There’s a couple things I want to attack early on. Affordability is one of them and public safety is the other, bringing back dollars from Washington D.C. to hire more police to enhance our public safety.”

Chakrabarti indicated he would follow a similar strategy to his mentor, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, building power outside of Congress to influence policy.

Looking Ahead

The June primary election will narrow the field of candidates to one or two, setting the stage for the general election to determine who will succeed Nancy Pelosi in Congress.