Greens Push Gonzalez to Challenge Pelosi

San Francisco Green Party activists are circulating an online petition encouraging Matt Gonzalez to run against Congressmember Nancy Pelosi. Such a race would bring joy to the city’s conservatives, who would sit back and watch as a not so civil war breaks out among San Francisco’s progressive community. A Gonzalez campaign would weaken progressives’ effort to defeat Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and create a rift between Greens and local labor unions, environmental groups, and communities of color that could take years to heal. These latter constituencies are central to a progressive insurgent campaign, yet they will be lining up with Pelosi this fall. Gonzalez came close to becoming Mayor of San Francisco despite being outspent more than 10-1, yet some of his supporters would have him fritter his promising career away on a sectarian campaign that would end his credibility for a future mayoral run.