“After reviewing the results and the ballots remaining to be counted, while we expect the margin to narrow significantly, we do not have a clear path to victory,” Chan wrote in a statement announcing her concession. “I congratulate Scott Wiener on his election and wish him success in serving San Francisco.”
The outcome reflects a complex political landscape in which Wiener overcame the significant weight of Pelosi’s endorsement. In May, just before the June primary, Pelosi bypassed Wiener to back Chan, a move that ratcheted up the intensity of the race. Chan, who immigrated to San Francisco from Hong Kong at age 13, has deep ties to the city’s large Chinese and immigrant communities. She served as a community and legislative aide for years, including for then-District Attorney Kamala Harris, before being elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2020. Since 2023, she has served as the board’s budget chair.
Chan’s campaign was bolstered by endorsements from major labor groups, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and the California Teachers Association, as well as from members of Congress such as Senator Adam Schiff, various progressive organizations, and former Mayor Willie Brown. In her own statement, Chan expressed being “deeply grateful” to Pelosi “for her trust and for four decades of extraordinary service that have strengthened San Francisco and our country.”
Pelosi, known for her deft political instinct and sweeping influence over the Democratic Party and its donor base, supported Chan partly because of her belief that an immigrant woman could make a distinct mark in Congress, particularly under the current political atmosphere. In a statement, Pelosi said Chan “brought courage, conviction and a deep love for San Francisco” to the campaign and gave voice to families whose struggles she knows firsthand. “I was proud to support her, and I am so proud of the campaign she ran,” Pelosi added. She also extended congratulations to Wiener, noting that representing San Francisco is “an extraordinary honor and a profound responsibility,” and stated her office stands ready to assist in the transition.
Wiener, a prolific lawmaker who has reshaped California policy on issues ranging from housing to transgender rights, will be the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent the bright-blue city in the House. His supporters, who included the state and local Democratic parties, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and various queer organizations, cited his legislative effectiveness. Wiener is the author of more than 100 laws, including some of the state’s most progressive measures on LGBTQ+ rights. His legislative record includes pushing for safe injection sites, extending bar hours, decriminalizing psychedelic drugs, and limiting federal immigration agents in California. He has also championed housing deregulation near transit hubs, artificial intelligence regulation, net neutrality protections, and corporate greenhouse gas disclosure requirements.
“In Washington I’ll bring the same determination I showed in Sacramento every single day,” Wiener said in a statement following the concession. “It’s time to deliver a better tomorrow for our city and our country.” He thanked Chan for a “spirited and hard-fought campaign” and hailed Pelosi as “the greatest Speaker in modern American history.” Wiener expressed that he was “humbled to carry forward the powerful legacy of this seat,” noting that San Franciscans made history by sending their first queer representative to Congress. He recalled arriving in the city’s Castro neighborhood as a young man and falling “head over heels” for the city.
Wiener’s victory comes amid a broader national context where Democrats have secured a mandate in Congress, according to Wiener. He outlined a legislative agenda focused on building millions of homes, moving toward universal health care, investing in clean energy and high-speed rail, and standing up for science, education, and immigrants. He also emphasized the need to ensure that people, rather than massive corporations, decide what works for the country, including on issues like artificial intelligence, and to ensure the rule of law applies to everyone, including the President.
The Associated Press had yet to officially call the race in Wiener’s favor as of late Wednesday, but Chan’s concession effectively settled the outcome. The race had become a focal point for internal Democratic dynamics, with Wiener’s backers arguing that his experience as a legislator capable of “fighting in a smart way, and to fight in an aggressive way” was necessary to defeat President Donald Trump and lower the cost of living. “This is a race to succeed the most effective and operational member of Congress in modern American history,” Wiener told The Times in September. “San Francisco should send someone who actually has a track record, a proven track record, of being able to deliver.”
For Pelosi, the loss of her preferred successor is a notable reversal, though she highlighted the broader achievements of women in politics in a social media post. “When I came to Congress in 1987, there were only twelve Democratic women. We made it our mission to change that. Today, we celebrate the election of more than 100 Democratic women to the House — a tremendous joy and source of pride,” Pelosi wrote on X. “When women succeed, America succeeds!”
Wiener’s entry into Congress marks the end of an era for San Francisco, which has been represented by Pelosi since 1987. As he prepares to assume the seat, the focus shifts to how his legislative style in Sacramento will translate to the federal level, particularly in navigating the challenges of the current administration and the economic concerns of the district’s residents.
