SAN FRANCISCO
Scott Wiener, the California state senator favored to succeed Nancy Pelosi in the U.S. House, has built a career on picking fights other politicians avoid.
From banning masks for federal agents to shielding transgender youth, his legislative portfolio reads like a roadmap of the nation’s most explosive cultural battles.
On Sunday, Wiener is expected to receive the California Democratic Party’s endorsement, bolstering his campaign in a competitive primary.
If elected, he would arrive in Washington as a ready-made symbol: a San Francisco progressive celebrated by the left and vilified by conservatives, yet occasionally at odds with his own allies.
After 15 years in city and state politics, Wiener is no stranger to tightrope walking.
“Sen. Wiener only does the tough bills,” said Chris Micheli, a longtime Sacramento lobbyist. “He never shies away from a significant political battle.”
But navigating modern Democratic politics has its perils. In January, Wiener shifted his rhetoric on the war in Gaza, adopting the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s actions days after declining to do so.
The reversal angered some Jewish groups and prompted Wiener to step down as co-chair of the state Legislative Jewish Caucus—a rare retreat for a politician known for charging ahead.
By James Kisoo
