Connie Chan Grabs No. 2 Spot With 28.6% as $10 Million Rival Trails at 14.9%
Updated
Updated · Mission Local · Jun 3
Connie Chan Grabs No. 2 Spot With 28.6% as $10 Million Rival Trails at 14.9%
3 articles · Updated · Mission Local · Jun 3
Summary
Connie Chan opened a wide lead for the second general-election berth in San Francisco’s race to replace Nancy Pelosi, outpacing Saikat Chakrabarti 28.6% to 14.9% in late returns.
Scott Wiener led the primary with 41.3%, but Chan’s edge grew across later vote drops: she added about 6,500 votes after 8:45 p.m., versus roughly 4,500 for Chakrabarti.
That left Chan and Chakrabarti’s combined total at about 47,000 votes, ahead of Wiener’s roughly 44,500 — a sign progressives could still be competitive if Chakrabarti’s voters consolidate behind Chan in November.
Chakrabarti had spent about $10 million of his own money and built a field operation with more than 200 paid canvassers, yet struggled against attacks on his local ties and weak turnout from younger voters.
Chan, endorsed by Pelosi in mid-May and backed by San Francisco’s established progressive coalition, now heads toward a November matchup that could test whether anti-establishment energy can unite behind a local insider.
How will Nancy Pelosi's chosen successor redefine representation for San Francisco after her 39 years?
When a combined 47,000 votes challenge the frontrunner, how does that reshape the November election?
How effective is a $10 million campaign against a candidate with deep local political roots?
2026 California 11th District Election: Connie Chan’s Upset, Wiener’s Challenge, and the Battle for Pelosi’s Seat
Overview
The 2026 primary election for California's 11th Congressional District, held on June 2, was the first truly competitive race for the seat in nearly forty years. With a crowded field of 11 candidates, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advanced to the general election. Against the odds, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan secured a crucial second-place finish, setting her on the path to November. This pivotal and highly competitive contest determined which Democrats and Republicans would move forward, highlighting the significance of California's open primary system and the changing political landscape in the district.