Democrats are turning on Pelosi now and Trump is hilariously watching from the sidelines.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing a surprising revolt in her own political backyard as prominent Democratic women push back against her accusations of sexism in the increasingly bitter race to replace her in Congress.
The dispute is exposing deepening divisions among San Francisco Democrats and raising questions about how much influence Pelosi will retain over the congressional seat she held for decades.
At the center of the controversy is California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who is running against San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan in the November election for Pelosi’s former seat.
Pelosi has thrown her considerable political influence behind Chan.
But a campaign tactic aimed at criticizing Chan quickly ignited a Democratic civil war — and now some influential women are publicly siding against Pelosi.
AI Chatbot Sparks Democratic Feud
Earlier this month, Wiener’s campaign launched an artificial intelligence chatbot designed to mock Chan’s political record.
The chatbot presented itself as an AI program trained to reject virtually anything users requested. The joke targeted criticism of Chan from opponents who say her progressive approach has contributed to opposition against numerous housing and development proposals in San Francisco.
The stunt quickly became controversial after the chatbot generated responses that Chan and Pelosi considered racist and sexist.
Pelosi strongly condemned the tactic, arguing that using artificial intelligence to imitate a female voice represented an inappropriate use of emerging technology and undermined a woman’s ability to control her own identity.
The backlash eventually prompted Wiener to shut down the chatbot.
That did not end the controversy.
Instead, Pelosi is now facing criticism from prominent women within San Francisco’s own Democratic political establishment.
Democratic Women Push Back Against Pelosi
Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, questioned whether the outrage surrounding the chatbot had been exaggerated.
Tung suggested that some of the reaction appeared politically manufactured, while acknowledging that campaigns frequently attempt to frame controversies in whatever way provides them with an advantage.
The pushback comes as Wiener supporters organize a “Women for Scott” rally to demonstrate that he maintains substantial support among female voters and political figures despite the accusations surrounding his campaign.
Susie Tompkins Buell, a prominent Democratic donor and longtime advocate for women, delivered an even sharper rebuke of Pelosi’s position.
Buell rejected the characterization of Wiener as sexist or racist and defended his record.
She also questioned why Pelosi would inject such serious accusations into an already contentious Democratic primary battle.
According to Buell, many people cannot understand Pelosi’s motivation for escalating the fight, and she suggested that personal political grievances may be playing a role.
For Pelosi, who spent decades as one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, the public criticism from influential women in her home city represents an unusual political reversal.
Pelosi Is Fighting To Shape Her Succession
The controversy is about more than an AI chatbot.
Pelosi has taken an active role in determining who will succeed her in Congress, and her endorsement of Chan provided the San Francisco supervisor with a major political boost.
That support helped Chan advance to the November contest against Wiener, who has emerged as the frontrunner.
Pelosi and Wiener have also reportedly had a strained political relationship.
Wiener made little secret of his interest in eventually running for Pelosi’s congressional seat, even before she announced her retirement. Pelosi’s decision to endorse Chan was therefore widely viewed as a political rejection of Wiener’s effort to become her successor.
The latest dispute has only intensified speculation about the relationship between the two Democrats.
Pelosi Defends Her Endorsement
Pelosi has largely avoided directly discussing her feelings toward Wiener.
During an Aug. 11 Politico event, the former speaker sidestepped questions about her intervention in the race. Instead, Pelosi said her support for Chan was partly motivated by a desire to elect more women to Congress.
Chan’s campaign has also defended Pelosi while criticizing the upcoming “Women for Scott” rally.
The campaign argued that organizing an event featuring women defending Wiener was an inadequate response to the broader criticism his chatbot received from women and other San Francisco residents.
Wiener, meanwhile, has characterized the sexism allegations as an attempt to shift attention away from the political issues at the center of the race.
He nevertheless removed the chatbot after concluding that the controversy had become a distraction.
Wiener Still Praises Pelosi
Despite Pelosi backing his opponent, Wiener has avoided launching personal attacks against the former speaker.
Following her endorsement of Chan, Wiener publicly emphasized his respect for Pelosi and expressed appreciation for her decades of service to San Francisco and the nation.
That restrained response stands in contrast to the increasingly heated battle among other prominent Democrats surrounding the race.
The fight also demonstrates how quickly Pelosi’s retirement has changed the political landscape in San Francisco.
For decades, Pelosi stood near the top of the Democratic Party and exercised enormous influence both nationally and in California. Now, Democrats are openly battling over who should inherit her seat — and some prominent women in her own city are publicly challenging her judgment.
For conservative voters watching from outside deep-blue San Francisco, the spectacle offers a revealing glimpse at the internal struggle taking place inside the Democratic Party.
A race that could have served as an orderly transition from one Democratic generation to the next has instead developed into a bitter contest involving accusations of sexism, artificial intelligence, personal rivalries and competing factions.
And the biggest surprise may be who is receiving some of the sharpest criticism.
This time, it is Nancy Pelosi — and the criticism is coming from fellow Democrats.
