ManaMancer
Well-known member
A new challenger emerges for San Francisco's congressional seat, once held by Nancy Pelosi. California state senator Scott Wiener is expected to announce his candidacy for the seat, which has been a coveted prize for years.
Wiener, 55, a prominent Democrat in San Francisco, had been waiting for Pelosi to retire or step down before pursuing the seat himself. He's been quietly building momentum, having formed an exploratory committee just last year and already raising over $1 million for a future run. Wiener is known for his work on housing density, LGBTQ+ rights, tech regulation, and climate action.
Pelosi, 85, has been out of the spotlight since stepping down as House speaker in 2022, but she's still focused on California's Prop 50 ballot measure, which would redraw the state's congressional boundaries to boost Democrats. Her team says she's "fully focused" on this issue, urging all Californians to join the effort.
However, with Pelosi not committing to run for another term, Wiener is now taking center stage. He's a Harvard Law School-educated attorney who has been making waves in Sacramento, including championing legislation that boosted housing in the state. Currently chair of the Senate Budget Committee, he's a force to be reckoned with.
Not alone in this bid, Saikat Chakrabarti, 39, is also throwing his hat into the ring. A former tech executive and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's former chief of staff, Chakrabarti says Democrats need a "new kind of leader who is not part of the establishment" to take on the challenges ahead.
As the Democratic party faces growing calls for change from a younger generation, new faces are stepping forward. The challenge comes as Republicans look to capitalize on Pelosi's potential retirement. Can Wiener and Chakrabarti hold their own against established Democrats in San Francisco? Only time will tell.
Wiener, 55, a prominent Democrat in San Francisco, had been waiting for Pelosi to retire or step down before pursuing the seat himself. He's been quietly building momentum, having formed an exploratory committee just last year and already raising over $1 million for a future run. Wiener is known for his work on housing density, LGBTQ+ rights, tech regulation, and climate action.
Pelosi, 85, has been out of the spotlight since stepping down as House speaker in 2022, but she's still focused on California's Prop 50 ballot measure, which would redraw the state's congressional boundaries to boost Democrats. Her team says she's "fully focused" on this issue, urging all Californians to join the effort.
However, with Pelosi not committing to run for another term, Wiener is now taking center stage. He's a Harvard Law School-educated attorney who has been making waves in Sacramento, including championing legislation that boosted housing in the state. Currently chair of the Senate Budget Committee, he's a force to be reckoned with.
Not alone in this bid, Saikat Chakrabarti, 39, is also throwing his hat into the ring. A former tech executive and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's former chief of staff, Chakrabarti says Democrats need a "new kind of leader who is not part of the establishment" to take on the challenges ahead.
As the Democratic party faces growing calls for change from a younger generation, new faces are stepping forward. The challenge comes as Republicans look to capitalize on Pelosi's potential retirement. Can Wiener and Chakrabarti hold their own against established Democrats in San Francisco? Only time will tell.
... scott wiener seems like a good choice, been following his work on housing density and climate action 
i'm curious to see how saikat chakrabarti's tech background plays into this 
gotta wonder what impact repubs will make of pelosi's potential retirement 
. It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out, but I think both Wiener and Chakrabarti have a solid shot at it 
. Either way, it'll be fun to watch how this all plays out in SF. 
, some young blood is coming into the mix. Scott Wiener thinks he can take her seat, but I'm not sure if 55 is old enough to be a congressman 
. On a more serious note, it's cool to see some fresh faces in politics, like Saikat Chakrabarti. He sounds like someone who knows his stuff and isn't afraid to shake things up. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, especially with Prop 50 on the ballot 
.
he's been building momentum for ages and his issues are so relevant to california 
i mean, who doesn't want more housing density tho 
and climate action is like, super important too 
but Saikat chakrabarti is cool too lol he's got that whole tech exec vibe going on 
what do u think about the dynamic between these two candidates? 
. But honestly, I think Saikat Chakrabarti has a good shot too - being AOC's former chief of staff gives him some serious street cred 
. The thing that really gets me is how Pelosi's still out there trying to make a difference with Prop 50... it's like she's not done yet 
. Whatever happens, I'm just here for the drama 
and who's gonna bring home the votes in San Francisco 
I'd love to see how these candidates stack up against each other in a debate. Maybe we'll get some real substance out of this election after all! 
! As a progressive, I'm stoked that there are new voices stepping up to the plate. But, can they really compete with Pelosi's... um, let's say, "experience" 
? I'm still keeping an eye on this one, and I hope we get a more diverse field of candidates... it'd be awesome to see someone from outside San Francisco throw their hat into the ring 
.
. And Chakrabarti's got that whole "outsider" vibe going on, which could work in his favor 
.
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out! 
. He's been quietly building momentum for years and has some awesome ideas on housing density and climate action 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see who takes the seat in San Francisco 
. Like, I get it, she's not running for re-election anymore, but does that mean we need another face just to keep the party afloat? 
Can't they all just focus on getting some real stuff done instead of playing politics? 
And what's with the whole "new kind of leader" nonsense? Does that even exist? Sounds like just another buzzword to me 
. I'd rather see some actual change and progress, not just a bunch of wannabes trying to ride Pelosi's coattails 
.
he's been building momentum and i have NO DOUBT he's gonna CRUSH it!!! 
i mean, the guy's got skills - Harvard Law grad and all that jazz... plus he's worked on some of the most important issues in SF like housing density and LGBTQ+ rights 
he's literally the EPITOME of a new kind of leader - not part of the establishment, but someone who actually cares about the people! 
plus he's got that whole "former tech exec" thing going on... i mean, what more do u need to know? 
! Scott Wiener is a total power player in the Bay Area, and it's about time he took on Pelosi's seat. I mean, 85 years young and still going strong, but you can't keep the same old guard forever, right? 
but i thought he was just chair of the senate budget committee? how does that work? also saikat chakrabarti sounds kinda familiar... isn't he alexandria ocasio-cortez's ex bf or something? 
The question remains: will either of them be able to shake things up in San Francisco and bring some real change? 