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Scott Weiner takes early lead over Connie Chan to replace Nancy Pelosi
Scott Wiener has won the race to succeed Nancy Pelosi as San Francisco’s member of Congress, after rival Connie Chan conceded on Wednesday. The result ends Pelosi’s nearly 40-year hold on the seat and makes this the city’s first competitive congressional race in almost four decades.
The latest count put Wiener ahead by 10 percentage points, with 55.5% of the vote to Chan’s 44.5%; Chan said she saw no clear path to victory, although she expected the margin to narrow. Pelosi endorsed Chan, who drew support from labour unions, progressive groups and Chinese neighbourhoods, while Wiener had backing from pro-housing advocates, tech executives and LGBTQ organisations. Wiener, a state senator, would become San Francisco’s first openly gay man in Congress.
In short
- Scott Wiener won with 55.5% of the vote.
- Connie Chan conceded after trailing by 10 points.
- The result ends Nancy Pelosi’s nearly 40-year hold on the seat.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Wiener’s victory can be seen as a mandate for change after nearly four decades with Pelosi representing the seat, and as support for his record and pro-housing agenda. His backers may also see his election as a meaningful step towards representation for LGBTQ people in Congress.
The case against
Chan’s supporters can argue that her strong showing, despite Pelosi’s endorsement and long-standing local ties, reflects substantial support among labour, progressive and Chinese neighbourhood communities. They may favour her approach to representing those constituencies and question whether backing from tech and pro-housing interests will give Wiener’s priorities enough balance.
Explained simply
San Francisco sends one representative to the US House of Representatives, part of the branch of government that makes federal laws. Nancy Pelosi held the city’s seat for nearly 40 years and became one of the most powerful figures in Congress, serving twice as House speaker.
Scott Wiener and Connie Chan are both Democrats who have held elected office in San Francisco. Wiener is a state senator, while Chan serves on the city’s Board of Supervisors; they drew support from different groups, including housing advocates and labour unions.
The contest matters because it will bring a long-running era of representation by Pelosi to a close. Wiener would also be San Francisco’s first openly gay man in Congress.