SAN FRANCISCO — As career politicians slowly trickle out of the chambers of government, the question begs if U.S. politics will remain a cacophony of aged voices, or if it is time to usher in some fresh eyes.
In a video posted to X, the 85-year-old Ms. Pelosi issued San Franciscans a heartfelt retirement message: “San Francisco: know your power. We have always led the way, and now we must continue to do so.”
But who will carry that torch, as the nation is increasingly divided? Could they carry it better from a different perspective than that of Ms. Pelosi?
Photo: Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, by Leigh Vogel
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that she would not be seeking re-election in her 11th Congressional District, which encompasses San Francisco. With Ms. Pelosi off the ballot, San Franciscans will have to choose a brand new face to represent them in Congress for the first time in almost half a century.
During her 40-year career, spanning multiple presidential administrations, Ms. Pelosi advanced landmark legislation, including the Affordable Care Act and the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). Ms. Pelosi was recently a proponent of Prop. 50, with her retirement announcement coming after the passage of its Nov. 4.
Ms. Pelosi is cemented in the zeitgeist as something of a feminist icon. She made history in becoming the first female Speaker of the House, accomplishing the feat in 2007 and serving until 2011; she was re-appointed as Speaker in 2019. She spearheaded efforts to impeach Trump in 2020 and 2021 on the grounds of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
In the latter part of her career, Ms. Pelosi was a regular subject of vitriol for right-wing media. She also acquired a public perception as an example of coastal elitism.
The days of careers like Pelosi’s may be ending. Public sentiment in recent years has shifted to prefer representatives who are in touch with the day-to-day realities of young and working people in the U.S., seeing overstay as an anchor on the progress the nation desperately needs.
Recently, this shift was evident in the New York City mayoral race, where voters elected the progressive Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani over Andrew Cuomo, the former Governor of New York.
The current candidates for Ms. Pelosi’s seat reflect a similar race: an established senator, Scott Weiner (55), responsible for monumental housing reforms in California, versus a younger former software engineer and political advisor—Sakait Chakrabarti—who happens to be a millionaire.
Photo: Saikat Chakrabarti (left) and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, by Tom Williams
Chakrabarti served as Chief of Staff under Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, and helped to secure her upset win as campaign manager. He also served as a tech director for Bernie Sander’s 2015 presidential campaign. He co-founded the organizations Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress, dedicated to funneling progressive candidates into government.
Chakrabarti’s political goals are expansive, requiring total reform of the Democratic Party; in his campaign announcement, Chakrabarti said, “It’s become clear to me that the Democratic Party needs new leadership.” He seeks the completion of long-standing leftist dreams: universal healthcare, truly affordable housing, and empowered workers.
Despite his own wealth, Chakrabarti is focused on mitigating income disparity by keeping the 1% in firm check, both inside and outside government. He supports banning congressional stock trading, citing Ms. Pelosi’s impressive stock portfolio, and hopes to levy wealth taxes.
The competition for the house seat, Senator Scott Weiner, is an experienced legislator and “corporate” Democrat with nearly 16 years of experience in politics. He is openly gay and has advocated for LGBT rights throughout his career. Sen. Weiner has authored 87 bills that have been signed into law.
Photo: Senator Scott Weiner, by Liz Hafalia/San Francisco Chronicle
Before becoming a senator, Weiner served on the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco, which provided him with a deep understanding of the specific issues facing the city.
While Sen. Weiner has a mixed reputation with the public, he has pioneered legislation that will change society for years to come. Sen. Weiner is best known for legislation requiring increased housing supply and environmentally conscious development.
In many ways, Sen. Weiner is the candidate most kindred to Ms. Pelosi in stance. He is business-minded and moderate, and his campaign site makes no mention of closing the wealth gap, or taxing the ultra-rich.
Sen. Weiner has been reverent in his statements regarding Ms. Pelosi, saying he wouldn’t run until she officially retired; however, he announced his campaign prior, in apparent response to Chakrabarti's launch.
Pelosi’s exit forces San Franciscans to choose what kind of Democrat they want: a seasoned legislator in the Pelosi mold, or a challenger promising a break from business as usual. Whether voters favor moderation or sweeping reform, the choice will signal how San Francisco intends to behave politically in response to the Trump administration’s actions.
Please contact me at sarah.h@lead4earth.org if you have comments or questions.
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