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California's 11th Congressional District election, 2026
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| California's 11th Congressional District |
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| General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: March 6, 2026 |
| Primary: June 2, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| See also |
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All U.S. House districts, including the 11th Congressional District of California, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House California District 11
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 11 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Cole Bettles (D) | ||
Saikat Chakrabarti (D) ![]() | ||
Darren Helton (D) ![]() | ||
| Daniel Wheeler (D) | ||
| Scott Wiener (D) | ||
Jingchao Xiong (D) ![]() | ||
| David Ganezer (R) | ||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Nancy Pelosi (D)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "My name is Saikat Chakrabarti, and I’m running for Congress in California’s 11th District. I came to San Francisco in 2009 after studying computer science at Harvard and became an early engineer at Stripe. For the son of Indian immigrants who came to this country through a government program that once actively recruited people to help build America, it felt like the American Dream. But as I watched friends, neighbors, and coworkers struggling harder every year just to make rent or afford childcare, I realized that dream was slipping away for most people. I left tech because I couldn’t ignore the deeper crisis. I wanted to use my skills to fight for an economy and a democracy that actually work for ordinary people. Over the past decade I’ve helped launch some of the biggest progressive campaigns in America: I built organizing tools for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, co-founded Justice Democrats, recruited and ran campaigns for candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and served as her first Chief of Staff where I helped launch the Green New Deal. After leaving Washington, I started the think tank New Consensus to develop detailed plans for how we can rebuild American industry, create millions of high-wage jobs, and tackle the climate crisis. Now I’m running for Congress because San Franciscans are being crushed by the cost of living and betrayed by leaders who are too comfortable in power to fight for us. We need bold action, and I know how to make it happen."
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "My name is Darren Helton, and I'm a fourth-generation Californian running for Congress. Working families and the future of our children are being decimated while those in power are too comfortable to care. My great-grandparents came from the East Coast to San Diego in the 1940s to build a better life. From them, I grew up believing in the American dream: work hard enough, and anyone could make it. Even as a foster kid learning to prospect and pan for gold, I held onto that belief: determination and grit could still strike it rich in our state. At eight, I was taken from my mother. The system taught me that those making decisions about our lives often know exactly what harm they're causing, they just don't care enough to stop it. San Francisco changed everything for me. Our city gave me the chance to build a career in tech, to transform my life, to prove that where you start doesn't define where you end up. Now I'm running because I need to give back to the city that shaped me. Sadly, the opportunities that lifted me are vanishing. Families can't make rent. Workers can't afford healthcare. Children can't afford hope. We don't need another politician. We need someone who understands that power breaks when regular people stop fighting each other and start fighting together. San Francisco gave me a chance. Now I'm fighting to make sure others get theirs."
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Social management scientist, founder of Common World, author of Automated Era My qualified is social management scientist. As the founder of social management, I possess the highest level of legislative skills in mankind. I can establish the world peace order , check and balance the power of the President of USA, make America more great. There are another 434 representatives in Congress with different ideology. I will lead the Democrats and persuade the Republicans to institutionalize the Internet society and implement policies in the Professional Era . Let officials and legislators in various places obtain scientific licenses in social management in order to serve people's livelihood. I will build new industries and promote common economics so that there will be no more needy people in the world. Send me to Congress, the per capita income of San Francisco county residents will exceed $1 million/year in three years. My book "AUTOMATED ERA" has discussed the evolution of human beings and planned the common world of Automated Era.Belief in living saints is more realistic than belief in imaginary God. I can bring mankind into a common world that is more equal, free, happy, and materially abundant than heaven!"
Voting information
- See also: Voting in California
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
| Collapse all
Donald Trump is leading an authoritarian coup, and too many Democrats in Washington are either passive or paralyzed in the face of it. My first priority will be protecting San Franciscans from Trump’s attacks and helping lead a collective resistance. That means building the strongest constituent services program in the country, defending the integrity of our elections, and using my position to pull together institutions like law firms, universities, and communities to fight back against Trump’s assault on democracy.
We need a modern-day New Deal to rebuild the middle class and stop the march of authoritarianism. Over the past 50 years, millions of good jobs have been shipped overseas and wages for the bottom 50% of American workers have stagnated while costs keep rising. This was not an accident. It was the direct result of decades of economic policy that prioritized short-term corporate earnings and sold out the middle class. I’ll fight for a national mobilization like we had during WWII to build clean industries, create millions of high-paying jobs, and prove that democracy can deliver prosperity for everyone.
Darren Helton (D)
Every crisis we face was engineered: unaffordable housing keeps people desperate, medical debt keeps them compliant, student loans keep them trapped. I'm not running to fix the system. I'm running to expose it, break it, and build something that actually works for people who work.
Climate chaos, water wars, and resource collapse aren't coming, they're here.
The same people who decided I'd go to foster care knowing it would likely destroy me are about to decide who gets water and who doesn't. We need to build parallel systems now, before those who only care about protecting their own wealth make those choices for the rest of us.
Our real enemy has a name and an address.
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Ensure that every citizen has suitable land in their own
country. There is no need to buy high-priced real estate and cemeteries.
There will be no Homeless.
Social management science:
Ensure that every official and legislator is
qualified and no longer waste the value of people’s labor and taxes.
Human belonging:
Ensure that has a wealthy family, and everyone will
Darren Helton (D)
• Making work pay. Your boss's boss makes more daily than you make yearly. We need universal healthcare and real safety nets so workers can walk away from exploitation.
• Climate survival. The rich are building their bunkers and buying water rights. We need neighborhood solar, community water systems, local food networks – now.
• Exposing the game. Housing, healthcare, wages – these aren't separate crises. They're one system extracting from us. I name who profits from our pain and how we stop them together.Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Publisher Writers Republic LLC (March 17, 2023) Language English Paperback 208 pages ISBN-13 979-8888107300 逍遙聖人熊競超Blog Publisher Ehgbooks (March 1, 2024) Language Chinese Paperback 358 pages ISBN-10 164784228X
ISBN-13 978-1647842284Jingchao Xiong (D)
When people drive small cars, their driver's license requires a Class C. When the driver drives a truck, the driver's license requires Class B or CDL B. When the driver drives a Bus, CDL A is definitely required. Social management science will certify qualified officials and legislators. If
not qualified, they will be interim officers.Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Darren Helton (D)
My manager took it. Kept it for himself.
One shift, two lessons: The customer believed hard work was enough. The manager knew an easier way - why work when you can just take?
That's the current America. The myth and the theft, clearing tables side by side.Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Darren Helton (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Darren Helton (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Darren Helton (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
to train the next generation. If they contribute, they will be promoted. If they are not capable, they must leave to learn again. Human life is limited. If a person stays in the same position for too long, it will waste the growth of
others and hinder the development of societJingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
account the interests of both parties and avoids conflicts. But the ability to compromise and the way to compromise are key, and Common World values allow humans to create standards. A partnership between two parties that can compromise is a partnership. The two parties that cannot compromise will be completely separated and no longer in contact.
Anyone can compromise if they share common values or goals.Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
Jingchao Xiong (D)
There is a standard for measuring the level of government. There is a clear standard for whether the administration brings damage or development.
Officials cannot praise their perceived achievements.
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Bettles | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Saikat Chakrabarti | Democratic Party | $949,097 | $853,713 | $95,384 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Darren Helton | Democratic Party | $5,247 | $5,247 | $0 | As of June 30, 2025 |
| Daniel Wheeler | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Scott Wiener | Democratic Party | $1,031,293 | $164,188 | $867,106 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Jingchao Xiong | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| David Ganezer | Republican Party | $7 | $0 | $7 | As of September 30, 2025 |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]
| Race ratings: California's 11th Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| 12/2/2025 | 11/25/2025 | 11/18/2025 | 11/11/2025 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | |||||
| Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | Solid Democratic | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Democratic | Safe Democratic | Safe Democratic | Safe Democratic | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. | |||||||||
Ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in California in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in California, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| California | U.S. House | All candidates | 40-60 | $1,740 | 3/6/2026 | Source |
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
2024
2022
2020
District analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.
See also
| California | 2026 primaries | 2026 U.S. Congress elections |
|---|---|---|
|
Voting in California California elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries |
U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
