Chan, a San Francisco supervisor, is running against fellow Democrat and California state Senator Scott Wiener in the race to replace Pelosi, who is not seeking re-election at age 86. The winner of the primary, which takes place ahead of November's midterm elections, is expected to easily win the heavily Democratic district.
During the debate, Chan said she would push for a 'full arms embargo on the Israeli government' and that humanitarian aid must be prioritised. Wiener also described Israel's assault on Gaza as a genocide and said he would oppose funding for the Israeli military and the provision of bombs or offensive weapons. 'This government, and it's not just Netanyahu, is an absolute abomination, in my view, in terms of what it has inflicted on Gaza, in terms of Israel empowering settler violence and land grabs in the West Bank,' Wiener said.
Pelosi, who has long supported Israel in Congress and voted in favour of military aid, has endorsed Chan, underscoring the district's progressive lean even as her own record contrasts with Chan's stance. The race unfolds amid deep divisions in Congress over US policy toward Israel. Nearly all Senate Democrats recently backed an unsuccessful effort to require a State Department report on Israel's human rights practices, including the killings of nine Americans in the occupied West Bank. This week, several House members also introduced the Stop the Settlements Act, which would impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in building or expanding illegal Israeli settlements.