Jerrold Nadler

Although tiny in size, Manhattan and San Francisco loom large in the American psyche. Think the Empire State Building and the Transamerica Pyramid, or the lush expanses of Central Park and Golden Gate Park. Both places have top museums, Michelin-starred restaurants and thriving waterfronts.

And now these communities, known for the liberal views and feisty politics of their residents, share another connection: The elections in their core congressional districts, New York’s 12th and California’s 11th, are wide open with the retirements of the Democratic stalwarts Jerrold Nadler and Nancy Pelosi.

The fiercely competitive primaries to succeed them are drawing national attention and could help shape Congress for decades to come.

These districts comprise some of New York’s wealthiest neighborhoods — the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side and Midtown Manhattan — and most of San Francisco, excluding its working-class pockets on the southern border.

The winners in these two small districts will gain national name recognition, a base from which to influence the trajectory of the Democratic Party and a bullhorn to share their views on the biggest issues in the country, such as the regulation of artificial intelligence companies and aid for Israel.