The state lawmaker favored to succeed Nancy Pelosi in the House is no stranger to the national spotlight. State Sen. Scott Wiener is the force behind headline-grabbing policies from a mask ban on federal agents to efforts protecting transgender youth. Wiener has been derided by conservatives as an extreme California liberal. He's also been viewed with some skepticism by more progressive members of the Democratic Party. Last month, he upset some supporters when he refused to describe Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide, only to change his mind. He is expected to win the California Democratic Party’s endorsement Sunday to replace Pelosi.
