Christine Pelosi, the daughter of retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, announced Monday that she will run for the California State Senate, setting the stage for what could become another chapter in the Pelosi family’s long political dynasty. In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Pelosi framed her campaign as a continuation of her family’s progressive legacy.
“In courtrooms, campaigns and corridors of power, I’ve fought to build Power For The People. And that’s why I’m running for California Senate,” she said in the announcement.
The seat Pelosi seeks is currently held by Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, a far-left progressive who has announced his candidacy to succeed Nancy Pelosi in Congress. Wiener’s early decision to pursue the House seat appears to have cleared the path for Christine Pelosi’s bid for state office and avoided what could have been an intraparty showdown between two powerful Democratic factions.
Wiener, 54, has long been a controversial figure in California politics. He is an outspoken advocate for gender transition procedures for minors and a frequent opponent of legislation championing parental rights—stances that have made him a lightning rod for criticism from conservatives and some moderate Democrats.
His decision to run for Congress came as former Speaker Pelosi, now 84, weighed her own political future, ultimately opting to retire after nearly four decades in office.
Christine Pelosi, 58, brings her own political pedigree and deep institutional connections. A longtime Democratic operative and strategist, she has served as Vice Chair for Campaigns and Elections at the Democratic National Committee and has been a familiar presence in national Democratic circles for years. Her résumé includes work in public policy, campaign management, and advocacy, often echoing the liberal priorities championed by her mother.
In courtrooms, campaigns and corridors of power, I’ve fought to build Power For The People. And that’s why I’m running for California Senate. pic.twitter.com/jncXmCCx6l
— Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) November 10, 2025
While Wiener has been quietly building toward a congressional run for several years, Pelosi’s entrance into the state Senate race reshapes the political map in San Francisco. In 2023, Wiener revealed that he had already raised over $1 million to fuel his congressional campaign, a move that many viewed as preparation for Nancy Pelosi’s eventual retirement. Her decision to seek another term last cycle temporarily derailed his plans, but with her departure now official, the competition among California Democrats has reignited.
Wiener’s move to Washington and Christine Pelosi’s decision to remain in Sacramento could reflect a strategic calculation within the party’s upper ranks. A direct contest between the two—one a vocal representative of California’s activist left, the other a figure of establishment power with family ties reaching to the heart of the Democratic Party—would have divided donors and operatives alike.
Still, Pelosi’s announcement underscores the enduring influence of her family in California and national politics, even as generational and ideological tensions continue to surface within the Democratic ranks. With Wiener’s departure from the state Senate and Pelosi’s entry into the race, California’s political landscape faces another realignment—one shaped as much by legacy as by ideology.
For now, Christine Pelosi is positioning herself as both a continuation of her mother’s brand and a fresh face for a party in flux, declaring her campaign to be, in her words, “Power For The People.”
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