San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan Runs for Nancy Pelosi’s Congressional Seat

San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan will run to fill Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after she retires in January 2027.

Chan, a progressive Democrat who represents the Richmond District, was rumored to have an interest in running and confirmed her candidacy on Thursday, about two weeks after Pelosi announced her retirement.

“San Francisco has always belonged to the people – not the powerful. And people in our city are struggling. Families are hurt by high costs, communities are devastated by Trump policies,” Chan said in a statement. “I’ve spent my career advocating for the everyday people who are the backbone of San Francisco. We don’t need a representative who talks and refuses to listen. I’m running for Congress to build coalitions, build up our communities and bring our voices to Washington.”

The San Francisco supervisor joins state Sen. Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti, a wealthy former tech worker who served on New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign in 2018, who have both have already announced they will run for California’s 11th Congressional District seat.

San Francisco’s former mayor, London Breed, was also considering a run for Pelosi’s seat, but announced on Thursday that she will not run.

So far, six Democratic candidates and two Republicans have registered for the June 2026 primary, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Chan was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the United States with her mother and younger brother at the age of 13, eventually moving to a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco’s Chinatown. She would become the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in Congress if elected.

She attended the city’s Galileo High School and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Davis. She later served as a legislative aide to former Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and former Supervisor Aaron Peskin, and also served as a communications aide focused on the Asian American community for former District Attorney Kamala Harris.

Chan was first elected in 2020 as District 1 supervisor, where she represents a diverse community, from working-class residential neighborhoods in the Richmond to the uber-welthy Sea Cliff mansions, where Pelosi lives. She also served as Chair of the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee and is a member of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission and the Free City College Oversight Committee.

As supervisor, Chan has largely aligned herself with the progressive members of the city’s powerful Board of Supervisors, supporting legislation aiming to protect tenants and immigrants. While she’s struck legislative deals with moderate Democrats like Mayor Daniel Lurie, Chan is considered more progressive than Pelosi and will also represent a more progressive candidate than Wiener in the race.

“I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and fought for the same values,” Chan said. “Their work made it possible for an immigrant family like mine to come to America, work hard and succeed. Now I need to stand up to fight for other families who are under attack, who are worried about paying the bills and who need an advocate in Congress.”