Wiener and Chan Campaign for Richmond District Votes
Congressional candidates focus on outreach to Chinese American voters across San Francisco.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Elections
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Scott Wiener and Connie Chan are intensifying their campaigns in the Richmond District to succeed Nancy Pelosi in Congress. Both candidates are aggressively targeting Chinese American voters who make up a significant portion of the city's population.
Why it matters
The candidates are competing for a pivotal seat in Congress currently held by Nancy Pelosi. Their focus on the Richmond District highlights the critical importance of the Chinese American electorate in San Francisco politics.
Scott Wiener finished 66 votes ahead of Connie Chan in the June primary, while Chinese American residents account for 22% of the total population in San Francisco.
The players
Scott Wiener
He is a political candidate currently campaigning to succeed Nancy Pelosi in Congress.
Connie Chan
She has served as the representative for San Francisco District 1 for nearly six years.
Nancy Pelosi
She is the longtime Representative for San Francisco whose seat in Congress is being vacated.
The details
Scott Wiener is utilizing Cantonese-language phone banking and appearances at local events to secure support, while highlighting his success in obtaining state funding for Chinese Hospital and Portsmouth Square Park. Connie Chan, who has represented District 1 for nearly six years and won reelection in 2024, is also heavily engaged in outreach to the local community.
Timeline
Connie Chan participated in a close reelection race in 2020.
Wiener and Chan competed in the primary election in June 2026.
Reports regarding outreach to Chinese American voters surfaced in October 2026.
Political Context
The intense focus on Chinese American voter engagement follows a long-standing pattern of demographic-specific mobilization in San Francisco municipal and federal contests. Critics of this aggressive outreach often raise concerns that such strategies can exacerbate political polarization within specific neighborhoods.
Residents in the Richmond District should expect increased campaign visibility as candidates continue to conduct door-to-door and phone outreach. Voters in this area play a decisive role in determining the eventual successor for the congressional seat.
The takeaway
Candidates must balance localized policy achievements with broad-based community outreach to secure victory in a tight race. Voters should review the campaign records of both candidates to understand their legislative priorities regarding regional infrastructure.
Further reading
For more information on the current race, visit the San Francisco Elections portal.
Live Poll
Should a candidate's personal background matter more to voters than their legislative record?
