As ballots officially begin arriving to California voters with the midterm election weeks away, the two Democrats running to succeed Nancy Pelosi in Congress faced off for their second debate in less than a week in San Francisco.
State Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan presented contrasting visions for the district before a packed audience, clashing over artificial intelligence, public safety, and foreign policy.
On the topic of artificial intelligence, Chan called for strict regulatory action.
“In Congress we will start a moratorium on data center and we need to have human oversight for the technology to develop,” Chan said.
Wiener argued for a different approach to the emerging technology with a focus on accountability.
“We need to ensure that AI benefits humanity and does not harm humanity that is a test for everything,” Wiener said.
Public safety also sparked sharp debate, with Wiener pressing his opponent over past rhetoric.
“Let’s be clear my opponent called to dismantle the police she said that in 2020 used that word to dismantle,” Wiener said.
Chan pushed back, arguing that reform and public safety are compatible.
“Look, accountability for our police department and public safety are not mutually exclusive…they actually can both exist,” Chan said.
On foreign policy regarding the war, the two candidates found themselves aligned in opposing U.S. military funding for Israel.
“We absolutely need to stop supporting the Israeli government…on Congress on Day one, I will be ready to cast a vote on a full arms embargo,” Chan said.
Wiener echoed a similar stance, stating, “I do not support funding for the Israeli military…I just won’t support that.”
The debate comes as California’s election process gets underway with counties mailing out ballots, and Santa Clara County opening in-person voting.
Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Matt Moreles emphasized that security remains a top priority: “We are doing everything we can here at the county…cast their ballots free from any intimidation or interference.”
With Election Day on Nov. 3, Wiener and Chan have just weeks left to convince voters, with two more debates scheduled for Oct. 10 and Oct. 13.
