Who will replace Nancy Pelosi?
nancy pelosi
Maxime Erramsissy/Shutterstock.com
Nancy Pelosi, who has served in Congress for 38 years, is not running for re-election, but who will replace her?
Pelosi, 85, announced earlier this month that she would step down after her term ends in 2027. Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a fierce LGBTQ+ ally, broke the news in a video posted to social media in which she thanked her home city of San Francisco.
Related: Nancy Pelosi retires from Congress, leaves behind record as champion of LGBTQ+ equality
“You made those words a reality. The trust you placed in me and the generosity you extended allowed me to break through the marble ceiling and become the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives,” Pelosi said, adding, “San Francisco, know your power. We have made history. We have always led the way and now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear.
Pelosi’s district is heavily Democratic, so this is an opportunity for a new Democratic leader. Here are some candidates who could potentially win the spot.
scott wiener
California Sen. Scott Wiener speaks at a press event to kick off the third annual Trans History Month (August 1, 2024) in San Francisco.
Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.com
Scott Wiener is an openly gay Democrat currently running to replace Pelosi after launching his campaign in October. He was elected to the California State Senate in 2016 and previously served on the San Francisco City Council’s Board of Supervisors, representing the Harvey Milk district.
Wiener is leading several LGBTQ+-friendly bills in the state, including Assembly Bill 82/Senate Bill 497, which would strengthen the confidentiality of medications used in gender-affirming care and abortions, and SB 59, which would seal gender transition court records for transgender and non-binary adults.
saikat chakrabarti
saikat chakrabarti
Provided by Saikat of SF
Saikat Chakrabarti is a wealthy former tech worker and Democrat who led New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s first congressional campaign in 2018 and became her chief of staff in charge of crafting and launching the Green New Deal. He also worked on Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign.
Chakrabarti began campaigning for Pelosi’s seat in October. his platform These include supporting universal health care and childcare, banning members of parliament from stock trading, reducing public utility bills by up to 40 percent, building lower rent and affordable housing, and opposing funding for the Gaza massacre.
connie chan
Connie Cheung attends the Lunar New Year Parade in San Francisco on February 15, 2025.
Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.com
Connie Chan is a progressive Democrat and a member of the San Francisco City Council Oversight Committee. She previously served as a spokesperson for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and was an aide to Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Sophie Maxwell and Kamala Harris during her time as city district attorney.
“San Francisco has always belonged to the people, not the powerful, and the people of our city are suffering. Families are being hurt by high costs and communities are being destroyed by Trump’s policies,” Chan said in a statement announcing his decision. KQED I will report it. “I’ve spent my career advocating for the everyday people who are the backbone of San Francisco. We don’t need representatives who refuse to speak and listen. I’m running for Congress to build coalitions, build our communities, and make our voices heard in Washington.”
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
