California state Sen. Scott Wiener has emerged victorious in the contest to fill the San Francisco seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), after his opponent, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, conceded Wednesday evening, according to local Fox affiliate KTVU.
While Decision Desk HQ, The Hill's election partner, has yet to formally call the race, Wiener holds a commanding lead—about 11 percentage points—with 62% of the vote counted.
Wiener, who has served in the California Senate for over a decade, bested Chan in what was anticipated to be a tight race for California's 11th Congressional District. Recent polling had shown the state senator with a modest advantage.
Pelosi, who is stepping down after nearly 40 years in the House, threw her support behind Chan. Wiener, however, secured endorsements from prominent state officials, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Treasurer Fiona Ma, as well as the San Francisco Chronicle.
Wiener will now represent nearly all of San Francisco, a city he has called home since 1997, having grown up in New Jersey.
Since entering the state Senate in 2016, Wiener has represented San Francisco and parts of northern San Mateo County, chairing the Standing Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments and the Select Committee on Bay Area Public Transit. He also served on committees overseeing transportation, judiciary, and privacy, as well as digital technologies and consumer protection.
A progressive legislator, Wiener authored more than 100 bills that became law, focusing on housing affordability, public transit, LGBTQ rights, and climate action. He drew national attention in 2024 for introducing some of the nation's first safety regulations for artificial intelligence.
Before his state Senate tenure, Wiener sat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and spent about 15 years practicing law, including at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office and in private practice. He holds a degree from Harvard University and clerked for Justice Alan Handler on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Wiener's victory adds to a wave of Democratic wins in the midterms, as the party has made gains in several key House races. The broader Democratic sweep has also seen statehouse trifectas and strong support from young voters, signaling a shift in the political landscape.
