California Primary Advances Two LGBTQ+ Candidates to Congress

In Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary, state senator Scott Wiener earned over 41 % of the vote in California’s 11th Congressional District, ahead of San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan (28.6 %). In the 48th, Republican Jim Desmond led with 41.6 % while bisexual Democrat Marni von Wilpert received 19.5 %. The top-two system advances the two highest vote-getters, sending Wiener and Chan to a November face-off and pitting von Wilpert against Desmond.

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California’s primary format guarantees the two top vote-getters advance, ensuring a Democratic contest in the 11th after Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced retirement. A 2023 redistricting map shifted the 48th toward Democrats, prompting Rep. Darrell Issa to forgo re-election and opening the seat for a competitive Democrat-Republican race.

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Wiener, a San Francisco state senator, has authored a decade of LGBTQ+-focused bills on anti-discrimination, HIV care and transgender-youth protections. Von Wilpert, a San Diego city councilmember and former civil-rights attorney, has defended inclusive library policies and represented people living with HIV/AIDS. Their campaigns were endorsed by Equality California, the Human Rights Campaign, Equality PAC and the federal super-PAC Equality California Votes, which ran a six-figure TV-digital ad effort and previously spent $1.5 million on Wiener’s 2016 Senate bid.

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• Primary vote shares: Wiener 41 % (11th), Chan 28.6 % (11th), Desmond 41.6 % (48th), von Wilpert 19.5 % (48th).

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• District partisan lean (Dave’s Redistricting): 11th 88.7 % D/10.2 % R; 48th 50.6 % D/48.7 % R.

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• Equality California Votes ad spend: six-figure TV/digital; $1.5 million previously invested in Wiener’s 2016 Senate race.

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Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson called Wiener an “LGBTQ+ champion” whose election would expand openly gay representation in Washington. Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang called Wiener “one of the nation’s most effective champions for LGBTQ+ people” and praised von Wilpert’s civil-rights record. Equality PAC co-chairs Mark Takano and Ritchie Torres called the primary a “clean sweep” for LGBTQ+ representation.

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• “HRC is thrilled to congratulate longtime LGBTQ+ champion Scott Wiener on his outstanding primary performance,” — Kelley Robinson, President, Human Rights Campaign

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• “Yesterday’s results represent a clean sweep for Equality PAC and a powerful victory for LGBTQ representation in California and across our country,” — Mark Takano and Ritchie Torres, Equality PAC Co-Chairs

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• “Incredible results tonight — #CA48 is ready for leadership that takes on Trumps reckless agenda and puts working families first. Onwards to November!” — Marni von Wilpert, Facebook post

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• “Marni von Wilpert has spent her career fighting for civil rights, standing up to discrimination, and delivering results for the communities she serves.” — Tony Hoang, Equality California Executive Director

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Wiener will run for the open seat vacated by Nancy Pelosi, while von Wilpert will face Jim Desmond in the 48th District general election. Both contests will draw national attention, and victories would increase the number of openly LGBTQ+ members of Congress, potentially shaping policy on housing, immigration, health care and civil-rights issues.

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