California State Senator Scott Wiener, one of the nation’s most prominent LGBTQ+ lawmakers, is preparing to run for Congress — setting up a potential showdown with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. As first reported by The San Francisco Standard and The New York Times, Wiener plans to formally launch his campaign later this month. Pelosi, 85, hasn’t announced whether she’ll seek reelection in 2026, but Wiener, 55, appears to be moving forward regardless. Wiener has long been seen as Pelosi’s most likely successor. He’s raised more than $1 million and built his campaign around his record on housing, public transit, and queer rights. As a state senator, Wiener authored the law making California a “refuge state” for transgender people seeking gender-affirming care banned elsewhere, a move that made him a target of far-right attacks. Pelosi remains a towering Democratic figure and a steadfast ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Her spokesperson Ian Krager told The Advocate, “Speaker Pelosi is fully focused on her mission to win the Yes on 50 special election in California on November 4th.” Wiener’s expected run signals a generational shift in San Francisco politics — from legacy leadership to a new, unapologetically progressive vision.
