Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series, where the congressional candidates respond to a question in 100 words or less. Answers will be published every Monday.
CA-11, the congressional district that Connie Chan and Scott Wiener are running to represent, includes most of San Francisco. Some southern neighborhoods (the Excelsior, Portola, Visitacion Valley, and Ingleside) are a part of a neighboring district.
There will be eleven local and regional propositions on San Franciscan’s ballot this November, and Mission Local asked the two candidates for their positions on every single one (Yes/No/No position).
Notably, neither candidate has taken a stance on Proposition I, the measure that would direct transfer tax to affordable housing and alternative housing. The Democratic Socialists of America are largely responsible for getting it on the ballot and Mayor Daniel Lurie has referred to it as a “slush fund” that would direct public funds away from city services.
They are both, however, for Proposition C, Supervisor Myrna Melgar’s measure that would increase San Francisco’s annual affordable-housing fund.
And though we didn’t ask about statewide ballots, we do know their positions on Proposition 40, the billionaire tax: Wiener opposes it while Chan is for it.
If you don’t yet know each of the ballot measures by heart, here’s a handy table with the candidates’ answers. For fuller explanations on some of the ballot measures, read the candidate responses below.
This week’s question: In no more than 100 words, please explain your positions on Prop. D and Prop. I and, if you wish, elaborate on any of your other positions.
Connie Chan
- Job: San Francisco District 1 Supervisor
- Age: 47
- Residency: Homeowner, has lived in San Francisco since she was 13
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, and walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis
- Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
D: San Francisco’s ballot process should be accessible to ordinary people, not just wealthy interests. Proposition D would quadruple the signatures required for voter initiatives, putting grassroots democracy out of reach for neighborhood groups, workers and community advocates.
I: I strongly support dedicated, long-term funding to build and preserve affordable housing. And we need reliable funding paired with a result-driven and adaptive housing strategy to build the most homes possible for working San Franciscans.
But transfer-tax revenue can be volatile and difficult as a dependable funding source. This is why I support Proposition C which will provide stable, growing investment … read more here.
Endorsed by: Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, Congressman Ro Khanna, California Federation of Labor Unions, SEIU California, San Francisco Labor Council, Working Families Party, San Francisco Tenant’s Union … read more here.
Scott Wiener
- Job: San Francisco’s State Senator
- Age: 56
- Residency: Homeowner, moved to San Francisco in 1997
- Transportation: Public transit and walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Duke, law degree from Harvard
- Languages: English, Spanish
Prop. D: The people’s power to place ballot measures on the ballot is a critical part of our democracy. San Francisco’s threshold to place ordinances on the ballot is dramatically lower than other cities in California. Prop. D strikes a reasonable balance, by ensuring the people’s power to place measures on the ballot, while more closely aligning our threshold with other progressive cities.
Prop. I: This measure is complicated and both helps and harms the construction of new housing. I’ve led statewide on reforming our broken housing system, so that we can build the homes we desperately need. I support … read more here. Wiener also elaborated on Prop. G, Prop. H and the regional transit measure.
Endorsed by: The California Democratic Party, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Sierra Club, San Francisco YIMBY, Grow SF, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, North Coast States Carpenters Union, Dolores Huerta … read more here.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically and rotated each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at io@missionlocal.com or yujie@missionlocal.com.
Election Day is on Nov. 3, 2026. You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
What a great synopsis.
Wiener is pro-housing. Chan is anti-housing.
Pretty clear and vote accordingly.
Scott Wiener is the Garry Tan candidate. Insert rationale, it’s paid for already.
Weiner has a proven track record in legislation (evidenced in the independent journalist’s work Golden Gates, amongst environmentalist journalists like David Roberts’ https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-fight-to-build-faster-in-california). He has proven effective and pragmatic.
Chan’s policies in blocking any housing, yet emphasizing car use are parochial and short-sighted and her record does not befit this race.
One could hardly have a clearer demonstration of how Connie Chan is the candidate of the failed status quo.