Bernie Sanders to visit SF on Friday for state nurses convention

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) holds a news conference regarding health care policy, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 13, 2017. The former presidential candidate will be in San Francisco on Friday to address a convention of California nurses. less Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) holds a news conference regarding health care policy, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 13, 2017. The former presidential candidate will be in San Francisco on Friday to address a ... more Photo: Tom Brenner/The New York Times / / Photo: Tom Brenner/The New York Times / / Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Bernie Sanders to visit SF on Friday for state nurses convention 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Sen. Bernie Sanders will visit San Francisco on Friday to promote his recently introduced Medicare for All plan at a convention of California nurses.

The Vermont senator and former Democratic presidential candidate will be joined by California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Yerba Buena Gardens Esplanade for the event that’s hosted by the California Nurses Association.

Sanders introduced his Medicare for All bill on Sept. 13. The proposed single-payer health care system would expand Medicare — which is reserved for older and disabled citizens — to everyone.

The bill has some support among Democrats, but has essentially no chance of passing anytime soon with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House.

The California Nurses Association, though, welcomes Sanders’ legislation as part of a “common fight for health care for all and social justice,” RoseAnn DeMoro, the union’s executive director, said in a press release announcing Sanders’ visit.

Organizers expect around 1,000 people, including nurses from 27 states to attend the convention.

The event begins on Thursday and will feature speakers, including Sanders’ wife, Jane O’Meara Sanders, founder of the Sanders Institute. Also set to speak are playwright Eve Ensler, political commentator Van Jones and Nina Turner, president of Our Revolution, an organization founded by leaders of Sanders’ campaign.

Sanders is scheduled to take the stage at 1 p.m. Friday.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky