S.F. Politics Preview 2026: Lurie Enters Year 2, Pelosi Exits, and More episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 20, 2026 · 1H 8M

S.F. Politics Preview 2026: Lurie Enters Year 2, Pelosi Exits, and More

from Commonwealth Club of California Podcast · host Commonwealth Club of California

San Francisco politics is rarely dull, but 2026 is shaping up to be particularly eventful. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman elected U.S. House speaker, has announced her retirement after nearly four decades serving San Francisco in Congress. The race to succeed her is wide-open, though State Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan have already thrown their hats in.  Meanwhile, Mayor Daniel Lurie starts his second year in office with high approval ratings and ambitious plans to boost housing construction and overhaul the City Charter. He’s also still facing fallout from a bungled effort to appoint a supervisor in the city’s Sunset District. His first pick, a former pet store owner with no political experience, resigned after allegations over unsanitary conditions and poor management at her small business.  We’ll check in with some of the city’s top political reporters to talk about Pelosi’s legacy, what to expect from the Lurie administration, and how the city will cope with federal cuts and Trump’s ongoing crackdown on Democratic cities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco politics is rarely dull, but 2026 is shaping up to be particularly eventful. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman elected U.S. House speaker, has announced her retirement after nearly four decades serving San Francisco in Congress. The race to succeed her is wide-open, though State Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan have already thrown their hats in.  Meanwhile, Mayor Daniel Lurie starts his second year in office with high approval ratings and ambitious plans to boost housing construction and overhaul the City Charter. He’s also still facing fallout from a bungled effort to appoint a supervisor in the city’s Sunset District. His first pick, a former pet store owner with no political experience, resigned after allegations over unsanitary conditions and poor management at her small business.  We’ll check in with some of the city’s top political reporters to talk about Pelosi’s legacy, what to expect from the Lurie administration, and how the city will cope with federal cuts and Trump’s ongoing crackdown on Democratic cities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S.F. Politics Preview 2026: Lurie Enters Year 2, Pelosi Exits, and More

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This episode is 1 hour and 8 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 20, 2026.

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San Francisco politics is rarely dull, but 2026 is shaping up to be particularly eventful. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman elected U.S. House speaker, has announced her retirement after nearly four decades serving San Francisco in Congress....

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