Nancy Pelosi Endorses San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress

Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Washington, D.C., for nearly 40 years and became one of the nation’s most powerful politicians, will retire in less than a year.

Chan immigrated to San Francisco’s Chinatown from Hong Kong as a child and has represented the Richmond District on the Board of Supervisors since 2021.

“I remember seeing San Francisco for the first time when I was 13 years old. I did not speak a word of English but I had heard this was a sanctuary city where anything was possible,” Chan said following the announcement. “Today, to be endorsed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to follow her in Congress — I know that is true. That’s San Francisco and that is the city we are fighting for.”

So far, Chan has secured support from labor groups and other politicians, including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

But she has trailed two of her competitors, also Democrats, in the polls and has raised only a fraction of the war chests they wield. The latest endorsement marks a significant win for Chan and could give her campaign a boost just weeks ahead of the primary, where the top two vote getters will proceed to the general election.

The other candidates include Sen. Scott Wiener, a state lawmaker and former San Francisco supervisor, as well as Saikat Chakrabarti, a former software engineer who previously worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and as chief of staff for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Wiener, a moderate Democrat by San Francisco standards, has nabbed endorsements from the California Democratic Party and politicians, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, South Bay Rep. Sam Liccardo, as well as groups like the San Francisco arm of Yes In My Backyard, a pro-housing development group.

Chakrabarti, a more progressive candidate, has positioned himself as an outsider in the race, looking to change the political establishment.

But neither Sanders nor Ocasio-Cortez, two prominent political figures he often cites his work with, has shown public support for his largely self-funded campaign.

“I am grateful and humbled by the support I’ve received from thousands of San Franciscans who have joined this campaign,” Chan said.

“Speaker Emerita Pelosi has shown by example what we can do when we stand together and we will now fight to make sure our beloved city remains a place of opportunity for all San Franciscans, and the conscience of our nation.”