Republicans are celebrating the end of Pelosi’s reign. But don’t be too hasty.
Because Nancy Pelosi’s replacement is so much worse than you think.
Pelosi Retires After 40 Years; California State Sen. Scott Wiener Emerges as Front-Runner in Deep-Blue District
San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not seek re-election, ending a congressional career that began in 1987. Within hours, attention turned to state Sen. Scott Wiener, the three-term legislator who declared his candidacy two weeks earlier and is now widely seen as the heir apparent in the solidly Democratic 11th District.
Wiener’s Legislative Record Draws Sharp Praise from Left, Intense Criticism from Right
The Human Rights Campaign has called Wiener a “tireless champion of LGBTQ issues,” while opponents label his agenda the most aggressive progressive platform in Sacramento.
He received the endorsement Thursday of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who said the state legislator “takes on big, tough issues,” as reported by Politico.
Key Laws Sponsored by Wiener Now Shape National Debate
Among bills Wiener authored that became law are measures that lowered penalties for knowingly exposing others to HIV, gave judges discretion in certain s-x-offender registry cases involving age-gap relationships, required prisons to house inmates based on gender identity, repealed loitering laws tied to prostitution enforcement, and declared California a sanctuary state for minors seeking gender-related medical care.
Another new law bars federal immigration agents from wearing face coverings during operations.
Not all proposals succeeded; a 2022 bill to allow 12-year-olds to receive vaccines without parental consent passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly.
Critics, including women’s-rights advocates, argue several measures weaken protections for females and minors. Supporters counter that the laws expand civil rights and public health.
Race to Replace Pelosi Remains Fluid, but Wiener Holds Early Advantage
Wiener’s main declared opponent is Saikat Chakrabarti, the former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with an estimated net worth of $167 million. Political analysts note the district’s heavy Democratic tilt makes the March primary the decisive contest.
In a campaign video released Thursday, Wiener paid emotional tribute to Pelosi, recalling how her early AIDS advocacy gave hope to frightened gay teenagers like himself in 1987.
“She was sticking up for people like me, for kids like me,” Wiener said. “I and so many others will be eternally grateful for her fight, for her leadership.”
