Newsom, Leno, Kopp — it’s a wide open field
The current field may not be thrilling, but potentially there are so many good choices.
Remember: Under the Constitution, you don’t actually have to live in the district to get elected to Congress (you just have to live in the state). And it would be easy for a lot of promeninent San Franciscans to move there, anyway. Let’s start the list:
Gavin Newsom. He’s not doing such a great job as mayor, but he’d be a fine member of Congress. It would get him out of town, let him hobnob with Washington society, Jen would love it … and if he won, Aaron Peskin would become mayor. Can’t beat that.
Or: Mark Leno. First openly gay member of Congress from the Bay Area. A lifetime job for a guy who loves politics and never wants to leave office. Instead of running against Carole Migden, he could be the class of the Congressional race.
Or: Peskin. What the hell; he’s termed out next year and has nothing to do. And just imagine him in Washington.
Or: Quentin Kopp. He’s not a young man, but he’s heathy and as energetic as ever — and even as a junior member, he’d put the fear of God in Nancy Pelosi.
Or: Matt Gonzalez. He could skip the primary, let the Dems all beat each other bloody then run in the general as a Green.
Who else? Let’s get the list going.