By Lisa Awbrey, HANC Board

Thanks to local community, the public, and HANC members for an informative congressional candidates’ forum on 3/12/26. The Park Branch Library Community Room was filled to maximum capacity and dozens joined the forum via Zoom.

Journalist, writer, editor, concerned citizen and local legend Leah Garchik moderated. Candidates Saikat Chakrabarti and Supervisor Connie Chan participated while Scott Weiner was absent.

HANC hosts queried the public for questions beforehand and live during the forum. Topics of discussion included land use,  tenants’ rights, rent control, local, state and federal funding for the implementation of socialized/affordable housing, safe and fair elections, protecting and funding independent media, healthcare priorities, taxing billionaires, the climate crisis and the local impact of coastal sea rise, privatization of PG&E and public power, and public transit and Muni. 

The next election in San Francisco will be on June 2, 2026 with early voting beginning on May 4. For the first time since 1987, Nancy Pelosi won’t be running for Congress.