Sen. Scott Wiener announces he’s running for Pelosi’s seat

By Dave Mason
The Center Square

State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat and vocal opponent of the Trump administration, announced Wednesday he’s running for U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s seat.

Pelosi, D-San Francisco, served as speaker of the U.S. House from 2007 to 2011 and 2019 to 2023. She hasn’t announced whether she will seek reelection to her congressional seat. A spokesperson for Pelosi told Glendale-based ABC7 that she is fully focused on her effort to win passage of Proposition 50, the Nov. 4 special election that would redraw California’s congressional districts to pick up five additional Democratic seats in the House ahead of the 2026 midterm election.

Wiener isn’t the only Democrat running for Pelosi’s seat. Earlier, former engineer Saikat Chakrabarti announced his candidacy.

While he will run in the Democratic primary against Chakrabarti and, if she seeks reelection, Pelosi, Wiener made it clear Wednesday that his campaign is targeting Republican President Donald Trump and his policies.

“It’s official: I’m running for Congress to represent San Francisco!” Wiener posted on X.

“I’ll fight Trump’s takeover, for our values, & for real progress. I’ve delivered on housing, healthcare, clean energy, and civil rights – and I’ll do it again,” Wiener posted. “Let’s build the future our city & country deserve.”

Wiener is the lead author of California’s recently passed and signed law banning U.S. Immigration and Enforcement officers from wearing masks. Senate Bill 627, also known as the No Secret Police Act, takes effect in January, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it won’t comply with it, citing officers’ safety. The issue could end up in court.

Wiener’s post on X included a video that called the Trump administration authoritarian.

“My family escaped fascism in Europe. I never thought the United States would slip into fascism like we’re seeing today,” Wiener said as the video showed Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Elon Musk, who sought to make cuts in federal departments through Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

“San Francisco has always been on the right side of history, standing up for democracy and civil rights, even when it’s hard,” Wiener said as the video showed images such as a photo of Harvey Milk, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the first openly gay man elected to office in California. Wiener represented the same district as Milk when he served on the board before becoming a legislator. Wiener also was deputy city attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office.

Wiener said he’s running for Congress “to defend San Francisco, our values, our people and the Constitution of the United States with everything I have.”

Wiener’s legislation in California included introducing the Health Insurance Accountability Act in February. He said he would continue to fight for health care, more housing, and protection of LGBTQ+ kids and families.