Wiener Files Paperwork to Run for California’s 11th District in 2028
State Sen. Scott Wiener, a prominent Democrat representing San Francisco, has filed paperwork signaling his intent to run for California’s 11th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Rep. Nancy Pelosi, as reported by KRON.
Documents submitted on June 27 and made public this week show Wiener declaring his intention to seek the House seat in 2028. However, the filing leaves open the possibility that he could mount a campaign sooner should Pelosi, 84, choose not to seek re-election in 2026. In that event, Wiener could transfer existing campaign funds to a 2026 race.
Wiener, one of the most high-profile LGBTQ+ lawmakers in the state, has long been considered a potential successor to Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987.
In response to a request for comment from KRON4, Wiener’s office released a statement acknowledging the filing and reiterating his continued commitment to serving in the California State Senate for the time being.
The senator said, “I’ve been clear that I intend to run for this seat whenever the race opens up, whether in 2026 or 2028. This filing is a critical step to prepare for the serious work of running to succeed one of the icons of American politics.
“In a potential race against extremely wealthy candidates who can self-fund, I’ll have to work very hard to prepare to go toe to toe. I’ve dedicated my life to the people of San Francisco and our core values, and representing our great city in Congress — as we fight for our democracy, health care, housing, and basic civil rights — would be a deep honor.”
Pelosi has not publicly announced her plans beyond the 2024 election cycle. She handily won re-election in 2022 after stepping down from her role as Speaker of the House. Her district, which covers most of San Francisco, is among the most reliably Democratic in the country.
