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Scott Wiener wins Pelosi's congressional seat as Connie Chan concedes

Scott Wiener wins Pelosi's congressional seat as Connie Chan concedes

Rule Changes San Francisco, CA local

The state senator will be San Francisco's first openly gay member of Congress.

Yesterday: Chan concedes to Wiener

Overview

Updated Yesterday

Connie Chan conceded San Francisco's 11th Congressional District race on Wednesday, leaving Scott Wiener to succeed Nancy Pelosi in January. Wiener had 55.5% to Chan's 44.5% with 164,000 ballots still to count, a lead Chan said she could not close.

The result ends the city's first competitive congressional race in nearly four decades and sends a state legislator known for housing and AI regulation to Washington. It also marks a generational change: Pelosi has held the seat since 1987, and Wiener will be the first openly gay congressperson to represent San Francisco.

Why it matters

San Francisco's next member of Congress will arrive with a housing and AI-regulation record, replacing Nancy Pelosi after nearly four decades.

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Key Indicators

55.5%
Wiener's vote share
Latest tally when Chan conceded.
44.5%
Chan's vote share
Latest tally when Chan conceded.
$15.5M
Spending backing Wiener
Roughly $15.5 million backed Wiener, according to The Standard.
$4.6M
Spending backing Chan
Roughly $4.6 million backed Chan, according to The Standard.
164,000
Ballots remaining
Ballots left to count when Chan conceded.

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People Involved

Scott Wiener
Scott Wiener
California state senator and congressperson-elect
Won election; will assume office in January 2027.
 Connie Chan
Connie Chan
San Francisco District 1 supervisor and congressional candidate
Conceded the congressional race on Nov. 4, 2026.
 Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker Emerita and outgoing representative for California's 11th District
Endorsed Chan; said her office is ready to assist the transition.

Organizations Involved

San Francisco Department of Elections
San Francisco Department of Elections
Local government agency
Released vote tallies showing Wiener ahead.

The city agency that runs San Francisco elections and counts ballots.
Equality California
Equality California
LGBTQ advocacy organization
Welcomed Wiener's win.

A California LGBTQ rights group that endorsed Wiener's congressional bid.
Anthropic
Anthropic
AI company
A super PAC largely funded by Anthropic spent $3.5 million to elect Wiener, according to Mission Local.

San Francisco-based AI company whose employees and affiliated super PAC backed Wiener.

Timeline

2025 November 2026

4 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Chan concedes to Wiener

    Latest Election

    Chan says no clear path after tally shows Wiener at 55.5% to her 44.5%.

  2. Wiener issues congressperson-elect statement

    Statement

    Wiener thanks voters and says he is ready to get to work.

  3. San Francisco votes in competitive congressional race

    Election

    Voters cast ballots to succeed Nancy Pelosi in the 11th District.

  4. Wiener champions AI safety bill

    Legislation

    State Sen. Scott Wiener advances a first-of-its-kind AI safety bill in California.

Scenarios

1

Wiener is sworn in for California's 11th District

Likely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: San Francisco Standard and Mission Local reporting on the transition

Chan conceded and Pelosi said her office is ready to assist. The House Clerk will record the new member when the next Congress convenes in January.

2

Wiener wins seat on House Energy and Commerce Committee

Possible Resolves by Feb 28, 2027

Discussed by: Wiener told Mission Local he would like to join the committee

Committee assignments are decided by party leaders. Wiener said he wants Energy and Commerce and Financial Services.

3

Wiener introduces federal AI safety bill

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local noted AI was a dominant issue and Wiener named the threat of AI as a priority

Wiener built his state record on AI regulation and said the threat of artificial intelligence is a federal priority. A bill introduction would test whether he carries that agenda to Washington.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 1977

Harvey Milk elected to San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1977)

Harvey Milk won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. He was assassinated in 1978.

Then

Milk served less than a year before his assassination.

Now

His election became a marker for LGBTQ political representation in San Francisco.

Why this matters now

Wiener's win as the city's first openly gay congressperson extends that line of representation.

June 1987

Nancy Pelosi first elected to Congress (1987)

Pelosi won a special election to succeed Rep. Sala Burton, who had died, representing San Francisco. She took the seat and began a tenure that would last nearly four decades.

Then

Pelosi entered the House and began building a leadership career.

Now

She became the first woman Speaker of the House and a central figure in Democratic politics.

Why this matters now

Wiener's victory ends that tenure and marks the first competitive race for the seat in nearly four decades.

Sources

(2)
The San Francisco Standard Mission Local