San Francisco Congressional Race Focuses on U.S. Aid to Israel

Progressive San Francisco County Supervisor Connie Chan secured the endorsement of Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption, the political arm of the pro-Palestine advocacy group TrackAIPAC. To earn the endorsement, Chan completed a questionnaire in which she pledged to oppose all U.S. weapons transfers to Israel, affirmed that Israel’s war in Gaza constitutes genocide, and vowed to reject funding from pro-Israel lobby groups such as the American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The endorsement differentiates Chan from her opponent, state Senator Scott Wiener, who led the June primary by 11 percentage points and advanced to the general-election runoff.

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Chan has consistently argued that both offensive and defensive U.S. arms shipments to Israel should be halted. Earlier in the campaign she advocated banning offensive weapons while pairing defensive support with humanitarian aid to Gaza; more recently she shifted to a full embargo on all U.S. weapons. By contrast, Wiener distinguishes between “offensive” munitions and defensive systems such as Iron Dome and David’s Sling. He says he would support the Block the Bombs Act, which targets certain offensive munitions, while continuing to fund Israel’s missile-interceptor programs.

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She also condemned recent confrontations at a San Francisco Trans March and a bar incident, describing them as “harassment” and emphasizing her resolve against threats of violence.

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• “In Congress, we will oppose any aid to Israel and do everything in our power to stop their government’s genocidal actions against the Palestinian people,” — Congress. Connie Chan

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• “Big corporations, billionaires and special interest groups are using their money to try and buy our elections,” — Congress. Connie Chan

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