SEIU pulls its endorsement of Scott Wiener over ‘Overpaid CEO Act’

The California Service Employees International Union, with 750,000 members statewide, has pulled its endorsement of state Sen. Scott Wiener over his opposition to Proposition D, San Francisco’s “Overpaid CEO Act,” set to appear on the June 2 ballot. 

In the race to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to a San Francisco House seat, the union will endorse only San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who supports the tax. Previously the union had issued a dual endorsement of Chan and Wiener.

Proposition D would strengthen a tax on companies with more than 1,000 employees and $1 billion in annual revenue and whose top executives make more than 100 times the median pay of their San Francisco employees. SEIU locals 2015 and 1021 are sponsors of the Yes on D campaign. 

Voters first approved the tax in 2020 but lowered it in 2024 amid San Francisco’s sputtering economic recovery. 

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and the city’s Chamber of Commerce oppose the tax. Wiener said he worried the measure would slow the city’s recovery.  

“Downtown is still recovering from the pandemic, and I strongly support Mayor Lurie’s economic recovery work. We need to give the Mayor space to succeed,” Wiener said in a statement to the Chronicle Wednesday. “In Congress, I will fight for progressive taxation, ensuring the largest corporations pay their fair share, starting with reversing the Trump and Bush tax cuts and closing loopholes that enable corporate tax dodging.”

Theresa Rutherford, president of SEIU Local 1021, wrote in a statement to the Chronicle that candidates’ stances on the measure “[reveal] who is standing with working people in this moment as we fight the Trump Administration’s attacks on our healthcare and our communities.”

Chan spokesperson Julie Edwards said the campaign was “thrilled” to be the union’s sole pick. “The choice is clear: Connie Chan is the candidate of working people,” she said. 

The solo endorsement adds to the list of support Chan has garnered, which includes nods from the California Teachers Association, National Nurses United, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club and the San Francisco Labor Council. 

Wiener’s endorsements include nods from the United Food and Commercial Workers union, the California Conference of Carpenters, the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Equality California, San Francisco YIMBY,  the San Francisco United Democratic Club and the California Democratic Party.