# California Sen. Scott Wiener elected to Congress, vows AI regulation

> Wiener, who authored early AI safety bills in California, says he will push for federal rules to curb advanced AI risks.

Oossa · 2026-11-09 · https://oossa.com/en/california-sen-scott-wiener-elected-to-congress-vows-ai-regulation

Scott Wiener won California’s open San Francisco House seat in the November 2026 election. The state senator, who wrote the first AI‑risk legislation in the U.S., said he will focus on slowing recursive self‑improvement in AI and backing a strong, nimble federal regulator. He supports whistleblower protections, testing and audit requirements, and a kill‑switch rule. Wiener also wants Congress to let states keep their own AI laws instead of a single federal preemption.

## The facts

- Wiener’s campaign received over $3 million from Public First Action, a nonprofit that backs AI regulation.
- He authored SB 1047 in 2024, the first frontier AI bill, which was vetoed, and SB 53, which was signed into law.

## Why it matters

If Wiener secures a seat on a future AI select committee, his experience could shape the first federal rules that limit advanced AI’s growth.

## Sources & references

1. [Nancy Pelosi’s replacement is ready to regulate AI](https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/11/09/1148182/nancy-pelosis-replacement-is-ready-to-regulate-ai/) – MIT Technology Review, 2026-11-09
2. [The Download: Pelosi’s successor targets AI and data centers face power woes](https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/11/10/1148150/the-download-pelosi-successor-ai-regulation-data-center-backlash/) – MIT Technology Review, 2026-11-10

Last updated: 2026-11-10