# Progressive Case for Scott Wiener

> Progressive journalist argues Scott Wiener beats Connie Chan for Pelosi's congressional seat.
- Title: Progressive Case for Scott Wiener · The San Francisco Standard
- Summary: Progressive journalist argues Scott Wiener beats Connie Chan for Pelosi's congressional seat. San Francisco progressive journalist Steven T. Jones supports…
- Keywords: san francisco, nancy pelosi, connie chan, scott wiener, progressives, congress, election, bay guardian, yimby, housing, news, local
- Source: The San Francisco Standard — https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2026/10/15/scott-wiener-congress-sf-progressive
- Author: Steven T. Jones
- Published: 2026-10-15T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: san francisco, nancy pelosi, connie chan, scott wiener, progressives, congress, election, bay guardian, yimby, housing, news, local
## Progressive community's dilemma
San Francisco progressives face a choice between Connie Chan and Scott Wiener for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat.

> The race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress has become a nail-biter
## Progressive history with Pelosi
Steven T. Jones, former Bay Guardian editor, criticized Pelosi's anti-progressive policies during his 11 years at the paper.

> We regularly vilified Pelosi and her alliances, criticizing her anti-progressive centrism
## Chan's progressive record
Connie Chan opposed car-free spaces in Golden Gate Park and Sunset Dunes, now supporting park elimination through Proposition G.

> She nixed the creation of car-free spaces in Golden Gate Park and Sunset Dunes
## Wiener's political strengths
Scott Wiener has been the hardest working and most effective politician in Steven T. Jones' 25-year career as a California journalist.

> Wiener is the hardest working and most effective politician I've covered in my seven-newspaper, 25-year career
## Progressive coalition tensions
Progressive groups oppose Wiener's YIMBY housing laws and condo conversion policies, weakening the coalition.

> His YIMBY approach, which curbs the ability of cities and local groups to deny or delay housing projects
## Wiener's LGBTQ+ advocacy
Wiener supported LGBTQ+ rights by fighting for bars to stay open past 2 a.m. and allowing public drinking in entertainment zones.

> As a California senator, Wiener led the fight to let bars stay open past 2 a.m. and allow public drinking
## Progressive backlash against Wiener
Progressives have painted Wiener as right-wing despite his support for rent control and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

> He gets called anti-tenant, despite his unflagging support for San Francisco rent control laws
## Wiener's congressional promise
Steven T. Jones argues Wiener will advocate for San Francisco's liberal values in a country mired in conservative dogma.

> San Francisco needs a leader like Wiener in Congress, someone who will tirelessly and effectively advocate for San Francisco’s liberal values
## Key takeaway

San Francisco progressive journalist Steven T. Jones supports Scott Wiener over Connie Chan for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat.