On October 22, 2025, twice reelected California State Senator Scott Wiener announced his campaign to run for the congressional seat, which had been occupied by Speaker Nancy Pelosi for almost four decades.
Having entered the Congress in the late 80s, Pelosi followed the trajectory set by the Democratic party and advocated for human rights, condemned discrimination based on sexual orientation, supported same-sex marriage and abortion rights, and proved to be an important ally to the LGBTQ+ community when allies were few and far between.
At 85, Pelosi says that she still remains full of energy and wants to see the democracy in the United States protected. However, last November, after a 38-year-long career in the Congress, she confirmed that she has no intention to run for another term, thus inviting younger members of the Democratic party to continue the fight.
Scott Wiener, 55, endeavors to fill the big shoes of the first woman party leader and one of the most productive politicians in modern American history in the 2026 midterms. An openly gay man of Jewish descent, in the course of his career, he has been fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and protections, normalizing conversations around HIV and PrEP, and creating legislation to improve housing, public transportation, and parental leave. His housing policies, in particular, make him popular not only with LGBTQ+ folks but also with a broader community of voters, as affordable homes remain one of the most pressing issues in California.
Wiener believes that he can stand up to Trump’s extremist agenda and do the hard work needed to make people’s lives better. He has already been endorsed by many elected leaders and labor unions in California, as well as by advocacy, community, and human rights organizations.
On January 7, Scott Wiener entered the first debate with his opponents in the Congressional race, an anti-establishment Democrat, Saikat Chakrabarti, and a progressive, Connie Chan. While the three candidates expressed similar opinions on many social issues, during the lightning round of “yes” and “no” questions, Wiener refused to lift his sign when asked about the genocide in Gaza.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war two years ago, Wiener has faced backlash from the anti-Israeli protesters for his lack of action and definitive position on the conflict. After the January debates, he addressed his reluctance in using the word “genocide” and confirmed that he condemns Israel’s violence in a video on Instagram, where lately he has been exploring the vertical media format to aid his campaign.
In the course of his career, Wiener received criticisms from both sides of the political spectrum. His gay identity and unwavering support for all members of the LGBTQ+ community made him a target for the right, and his moderate views on global political issues raised skepticism in the left. However, Wiener’s track record of bills that passed into legislation makes him a valuable candidate and backs his claim of “never giving up until the job is done.”
The Congressional elections are planned for November 3, 2026, marking the final phase of the midterm elections. Historically, the voter turnout at midterms is lower than during the presidential elections, yet the results are crucial to shifting the balance of power in the federal government. With Trump’s regime threatening the foundations of democracy, fairness, and freedom, it becomes pivotal for citizens of the United States to exercise their democratic right to vote and take a decisive stance on the future of this country.
