Nancy Pelosi Endorses Connie Chan for Congress Replacement
Nancy Pelosi, the longtime California Representative, has made her choice for who will succeed her in Congress. On Monday, she threw her support behind San Francisco City Supervisor Connie Chan in the race for her former seat.
Pelosi’s endorsement favors Chan over other progressives like Saikat Chakrabarti and California Senator Scott Weiner. “I know this district, I know this Congress, and I know Connie,” Pelosi stated in a video clip with Chan. “I am proud to support Connie Chan. Please join me in electing her to Congress.”
This endorsement carries considerable weight for Chan, who has been a member of the city’s Board of Supervisors since 2021 but is currently trailing behind Wiener and Chakrabarti in the race, according to some polls.
Pelosi has held her Congressional seat for nearly 40 years before announcing her retirement last November. She maintained her preference for several months before endorsing Chan just ahead of the June 2 primary.
“Connie Chan is the leader most poised to advance the fight for San Francisco in Congress,” Pelosi said. “In times when fundamental freedoms and democratic values face challenges, we need Congressional leaders who are ready to fight effectively.”
At 86, Pelosi is one of the oldest members of Congress and will officially retire in January 2027.
Chakrabarti, lacking backing from his former boss, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, dismissed Pelosi’s endorsement. He reiterated that his campaign will rely on grassroots activism rather than endorsements or corporate PACs, stating, “This is how we can win with the support of San Franciscans, not support from corporate PACs and establishments.”
Chan, who emigrated from Hong Kong, expressed pride in receiving Pelosi’s endorsement. “I remember seeing San Francisco for the first time when I was 13. I didn’t speak a word of English, but I knew it was a sanctuary city where anything was possible,” she shared in a statement. “Today, to be endorsed by the Honorable Speaker Nancy Pelosi to follow her in Congress— that’s San Francisco, that’s the city we’re fighting for.”
