Scott Wiener, a California state senator, has won Nancy Pelosi's former congressional seat in San Francisco, defeating Supervisor Connie Chan. Wiener, 56, secured 55 percent of the vote compared to Chan's 44 percent, with approximately 57 percent of ballots counted, according to The Associated Press.
Wiener's victory makes him the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent San Francisco in Congress, concluding Pelosi's nearly four-decade tenure in the 11th Congressional District. He is known for championing legislation such as Senate Bill 132, a controversial 2020 law that allows transgender, nonbinary, and intersex inmates to request housing in correctional facilities aligned with their gender identity. The law took effect in January 2021.
He has also been a vocal proponent of transgender athletes competing in women's sports.
Wiener has authored over 100 bills signed into California law, including legislation protecting access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors and their families relocating from other states. His congressional campaign focused on issues such as housing affordability, public transportation, and healthcare.
The race was not without controversy. Wiener's campaign launched an AI chatbot parodying Chan, accompanied by billboard advertisements, which was later taken down. Wiener's team stated the chatbot was intended as a parody to highlight Chan's record on key issues. However, Pelosi and other Democratic women condemned the tactic, calling it a misuse of technology targeting a woman of color. Despite Pelosi's endorsement of Chan, the supervisor conceded the race, stating there was no clear path to victory.
