Leather-wearing Democratic state lawmaker Scott Wiener to challenge Nancy Pelosi for California House seat
Wiener has represented San Francisco in the California state Senate since 2016.Senator Scott Wiener, /X
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House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will face a primary challenge in 2026 from State Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco lawmaker known for his advocacy on LGBTQ issues and progressive policies. Wiener has already raised more than $1 million for his campaign.
Wiener, who has represented parts of San Francisco and the Bay Area in the California State Senate since 2016, had previously said he would only seek Pelosi’s congressional seat if she decided to retire. However, multiple outlets reported Friday that Wiener plans to formally announce his campaign for Congress next week.
The 55-year-old California state senator will run for Pelosi’s seat in 2026.Senator Scott Wiener, /X
According to Federal Election Commission filings, Wiener’s committee, “Scott Wiener for Congress,” was established in 2023 and reported over $1 million in contributions at the end of September. Pelosi’s principal campaign committee, meanwhile, reported approximately $2 million in contributions over the same period.
Pelosi, 85, who underwent hip surgery late last year after a fall in Europe, has continued to make appearances on Capitol Hill, sometimes with assistance from her security detail. She has not indicated any plans to retire.
“Speaker Pelosi is fully focused on her mission to win the Yes on 50 special election in California on November 4th,” said spokesperson Ian Krager in a statement. “She urges all Californians to join in that mission on the path to taking back the House for the Democrats.” Krager did not comment directly on Wiener’s challenge.
Wiener, 55, is described in his official biography as “one of the strongest LGBTQ civil rights champions in the nation.” He has sponsored legislation supporting gender-affirming care for minors, allowing non-binary gender designations on state IDs, and reforming parts of California’s sex offender registry laws—measures that have drawn both support and controversy.
Pelosi, 85, has yet to announce whether she will seek re-election in 2026.Andrew Schwartz/SIPA/Shutterstock
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An openly gay lawmaker, Wiener is also a regular attendee of San Francisco’s annual Folsom Street Fair and has described himself as a “drag queen advocate.” In 2022, responding to a Texas proposal to ban drag performances when minors are present, Wiener suggested on social media that California schools could offer “Drag Queen 101” as part of the K–12 curriculum, joking that “attending Drag Queen Story Time will satisfy the requirement.”
A vocal critic of President Trump, Wiener has in the past described the National Guard as “Trump’s private army” and warned the president to “stay the hell out of San Francisco.” He has also referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a “paramilitary police force” and “modern-day gestapo,” tweeting recently that “ICE needs to get the hell out.”
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