Meet Scott Wiener, the man confronting the Pelosi dynasty

By Dustin Gardiner : politico – excerpt

The state senator has built a shadow campaign as he waits for Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat to open. But he could face a tough road if another Pelosi decides to run.

SAN FRANCISCO — A powerful state lawmaker known for his housing and drug legalization efforts has done everything possible to position himself to win perhaps the most prominent House district west of the Mississippi whenever it opens up — the seat held for decades by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Scott Wiener, a ubiquitous figure in California politics who is still unknown nationally, has packed the county Democratic Party with allies to help him lock up the state party endorsement. He’s built a fundraising juggernaut and a volunteer army. He’s held “Women for Scott” fundraisers to court female leaders.

But Wiener’s yearslong shadow campaign has a major problem: the Pelosi dynasty. The former speaker, who last fall surprised the political world with her decision to run for reelection this year, has not said when she’ll retire — and when she does, her daughter will likely be waiting in the wings. Christine Pelosi, a party organizer, is widely speculated to be eyeing the seat as well.

“It’s very difficult for anybody to challenge the name Pelosi,” said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a political kingmaker in the city for decades who is close to the speaker emerita. “Nancy Pelosi is basically the foremost Democrat in this state.”…(more)