The Most Shouted-At Politician in America

"Scott Wiener has an unusual distinction in American politics: He upsets almost everybody. In the months before I met the California state senator-who is now running for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat-he had been harangued at one public meeting after another. In October, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted his campaign's pumpkin-carving event to shout: "Wiener, Wiener, you can't hide; we charge you with genocide." (This was not an isolated incident.) His usual response in these situations is to wait calmly and then carry on as normal."

"At another event a few days later, the singer Tish Hyman, who identified herself as "the only Black lesbian here," confronted Wiener about his far-reaching support for transgender inclusion. "What would you say to women who are seeking assurance that their safety will be protected from men who by California law can self-ID as women in women-only spaces? asked Hyman. Wiener replied that he was committed to the safety of all women-trans women included. Video of the confrontation went viral."

"As a gay, Jewish politician, he defends Israel in ways that get him in trouble with the left. His LGBTQ advocacy not only has made him a target of the right but also goes too far for people such as Hyman, who voted for Kamala Harris. And as a YIMBY-an acronym that stands for "Yes in My Backyard"-he's faced down San Francisco's powerful homeowner class, who wrap their aversion to new housing in the language of environmentalism and social justice."

Scott Wiener frequently draws criticism from multiple political directions. Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted his campaign events and accused him of genocide, while others challenge his expansive support for transgender inclusion. Wiener publicly affirms commitment to the safety of all women, including trans women, and often responds to confrontations by waiting calmly and proceeding with his work. He defends Israel in ways that alienate progressives and faces attacks from the right for his LGBTQ advocacy. As a YIMBY advocate, he has confronted San Francisco homeowners and passed notable housing legislation that has attracted national attention for its effectiveness in promoting homebuilding.

Read at The Atlantic