Wiener Opens Wide Lead Over Chan in Pelosi Seat Race

Wiener held 55.4% of the vote to Chan’s 44.6% in early returns for San Francisco’s 11th Congressional District, a margin of more than 17,100 votes. The count was incomplete, and Chan said the remaining ballots should be tallied before the race is decided.

The results showed Wiener winning in several neighborhoods associated with progressive candidates, including the Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley and Alamo Square. He also led narrowly in Bernal Heights and in Chan’s Richmond-centered supervisor district. Chan was ahead in parts of Chinatown and the Sunset District, and won the Mission by a slim margin.

Wiener’s campaign emphasized housing and transit, while Chan campaigned on workers and communities she said were overlooked. Chan had Pelosi’s endorsement and support among progressives, labor unions and Chinese-American communities. Wiener drew backing from groups favoring more housing, technology industry leaders and LGBTQ organizations.

Wiener and allied supporters spent $15.5 million, compared with $4.6 million spent by Chan and her supporters. His campaign said its canvassers knocked on more than 311,000 doors.

Wiener told supporters he felt good about his lead. Chan urged her backers to remain hopeful, saying the count was unfinished and that the process should run its course. If elected, Wiener would be the first openly gay male representative from San Francisco in Congress. Pelosi is retiring after holding the seat for 40 years.

Wiener’s Lead Shows Housing Message Reached Progressive Neighborhoods

Wiener’s early lead in San Francisco’s congressional race points to the reach of his pro-housing message—even in neighborhoods that often back progressive candidates. He held 55.4% to Connie Chan’s 44.6% in the contest to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Wiener was ahead in the Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Alamo Square and Bernal Heights, and led narrowly in Chan’s own supervisor district. Chan’s lead in the Mission was slim. The pattern challenged the expectation that her progressive, labor and community support would translate into a stronger showing across the city.

Wiener and allied supporters spent $15.5 million, more than three times the $4.6 million spent by Chan and her supporters. His campaign said canvassers knocked on more than 311,000 doors. Wiener’s backers credited his long-standing focus on housing and transit with helping his message travel beyond his usual base.

Chan had Pelosi’s endorsement and thanked the former speaker, while urging supporters not to give up before all ballots were counted. She said her campaign’s focus on workers and overlooked communities would continue. The early results leave her facing a steep challenge, though she has not conceded. If elected, Wiener would become the first openly gay male representative from San Francisco in Congress.

Wiener’s Ground Game and Housing Agenda Outpace Pelosi’s Pick

The early results in San Francisco show that Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement could not overcome Scott Wiener’s citywide campaign operation and his appeal to voters focused on housing. Wiener led Connie Chan 55.4% to 44.6% in the race for the seat Pelosi is leaving after 40 years.

Wiener carried several neighborhoods known for progressive politics, including the Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley and Alamo Square. He also led narrowly in Chan’s supervisor district. Chan managed only a slim edge in the Mission, though she performed better in Chinatown and the Sunset.

The scale of the campaigns was sharply different: Wiener and allied supporters spent $15.5 million, while Chan and her supporters spent $4.6 million. His campaign said its canvassers knocked on more than 311,000 doors. Backers pointed to Wiener’s housing and transit agenda and sustained neighborhood outreach as the basis for his broad showing.

Chan had Pelosi’s backing and support from progressive groups, labor unions and Chinese-American communities. But the early tally put her well behind, despite that powerful endorsement. She has not conceded, arguing that ballots remain and should be counted. Wiener said he felt confident about the lead; the remaining count will determine whether it holds. If elected, he would represent San Francisco as its first openly gay male member of Congress.