Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed Connie Chan, a San Francisco supervisor, in the race to succeed her as the city's representative in Congress, calling her the candidate who "stands above the rest".
Pelosi Breaks Silence on Successor
The former House speaker, who had not yet weighed in on the contested primary for the San Francisco district she has held for nearly 40 years, declared Chan the "leader best prepared to carry forward the fight for San Francisco in the Congress". Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the House, will retire at the end of her term.
As early mail-in ballots trickle in ahead of the 2 June primary, Pelosi released a letter to residents stating: "At a time when fundamental freedoms and democratic values are under assault, we need a leader in Congress who is prepared to fight – forcefully and effectively."
A Tight Race
Pelosi's endorsement comes as polling shows Chan in a tight contest to advance to the November general election. The field includes Scott Wiener, a Democratic state senator known for championing housing production and LGBTQ+ rights, and Saikat Chakrabarti, a former tech executive who served as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's first chief of staff and has been an outspoken critic of Pelosi. Ocasio-Cortez has declined to endorse anyone in the race.
Several recent surveys show Chan effectively tied with Chakrabarti for second place, behind Wiener. Under California's primary system, the top two contenders will advance to the November general election, regardless of party.
Chan's Background
In her endorsement, Pelosi said Chan brings "important lived experience" as a woman, a mother and an Asian American immigrant to the US. "Connie's story reflects the American dream," Pelosi wrote, "the hopes and courage of so many families who came to this country believing in opportunity, dignity, and democracy."
Chan was born in Hong Kong and immigrated at the age of 13 with her mother and younger brother to San Francisco, where her family lived in a one-bedroom apartment in the city's Chinatown neighborhood. If elected, she would be the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in Congress.
Pelosi has represented San Francisco in Washington since 1987, and remains one of the progressive city's most prominent – and popular – elected officials.
