LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to step down after nearly four decades in Congress is setting off an open competition to succeed her at a time when a debate is raging in her hometown of San Francisco over the cost of living and what her future should look like.
Pelosi announced Thursday that she would not run for re-election next year, ending a career that saw her become the first woman in the speaker’s chair and one of the most powerful Democrats of her era in Washington.
The race to replace her comes at a time when her deeply Democratic and notoriously liberal district — which encompasses virtually all of San Francisco — is grappling with rising housing costs and conflicts over whether denser development is the answer. Republicans make up just 7% of voters.
Not surprisingly, Democratic candidate and former tech executive Saikat Chakrabarti’s website is headlined: “We can fix this.”
“The average home in our city now costs $1.4 million — far more than any middle-class family can afford,” he says.
San Francisco-based Democratic consultant Eric Jaye says “affordability is at the top of the list” for voters in the city of 830,000.
There is an ongoing debate among older and fresh residents – and great fears – about: “What will we be in the future?” Jaye says. With the influx of artificial intelligence and other technologies, as well as global capital flows, the question is: “Who will stay?”
A fresh generation is pushing for its chance at power
Pelosi, 85, has been under pressure for years from a younger generation of Democrats to step aside. Their announcement came after two leading candidates didn’t wait and joined the contest: Chakrabarti, a former chief of staff to Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, known for his advocacy for denser development.
With Pelosi’s announcement, more notable candidates are expected to enter the contest. The list of possible candidates includes her daughter, lawyer and Democratic Party activist Christine Pelosi, who observers have long speculated could follow her mother into Congress. She did not respond to phone or text messages Thursday.
A lawmaker long viewed as a possible Pelosi successor
Wiener is a fixture in San Francisco politics – he has represented the city in the state Senate since 2016 and previously served on the Board of Supervisors. He is known for taking stances on sensitive issues such as transgender rights and housing. Even against opposition from local officials, he pushed for a proposal approved this year that would allow taller homes near transportation hubs.
But his advocacy for dense housing has also earned him criticism: He is “very popular with some constituencies and, frankly, very unpopular with others,” says Jaye. If Wiener wins, he would be the first openly gay person to represent San Francisco in Congress.
A former tech executive wants to go to Capitol Hill
Comparisons are basic to draw between Chakrabarti and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who won a landslide victory this week. Chakrabarti worked for Bernie Sanders in 2016, who supported Mamdani, as did Ocasio-Cortez. Chakrabarti’s parents were from India, as were Mamdani’s parents.
His agenda examines a list of progressive priorities, including Medicare for All. Jaye says Chakrabarti is positioning himself as “the progressive candidate, the generational candidate.” Chakrabarti, a wealthy founding engineer at payment processing company Stripe, says he and his volunteers will knock on every door in the district.
A race that could quickly become crowded
Another name often mentioned as a potential candidate is Connie Chan, a progressive who sits on the board. Jaye says she could bring powerful constituencies to the contest, including influential unions. She was born in Hong Kong and would likely receive forceful support from the city’s enormous Asian American community. As a woman, she would stand out from Chakrabarti and Wiener.
In another historical situation, if elected, Chan or Chakrabarti would be the first person of Asian descent to represent the district.
The contest in the heavily Democratic district comes amid the nationwide battle for control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans have a 219-213 majority in the House of Representatives, with three seats vacant.
President Donald Trump will inevitably shape the election campaign, even if he does not take part in the 2026 election. Wiener’s website is headlined, “Scott has the courage to stand up to Trump,” and Chakrabarti warns, “Authoritarianism is winning because the American dream is failing.”
Still, housing costs are likely to dominate the race.
“Density is going to be the No. 1 problem,” says political scientist Jason McDaniel of California State University, San Francisco. The campaign will present “dueling visions for solving this affordability problem.”
