Nancy Pelosi ended weeks of silence Monday by endorsing Connie Chan for Congress, the San Francisco supervisor locked in a competitive primary to succeed the former House speaker in a district she has held since 1987.
In a video released alongside a letter to voters, Pelosi called Chan the candidate "best prepared to carry forward the fight for San Francisco in the Congress" and praised her ability to "fight forcefully and effectively" for the city's values. The endorsement arrives as early ballots arrive ahead of the June 2 primary.
"I know the Congress, and I know Connie," Pelosi said in the video, seated next to Chan with the Golden Gate Bridge visible behind them. "I'm proud to endorse Democrat Connie Chan and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress."
Chan, a progressive Democrat with labor union backing, faces a crowded field including state senator Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti, a former tech executive who once served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Recent polling shows Chan running nearly even with Chakrabarti for second place, trailing Wiener. California's open primary system means the top two finishers advance to November regardless of party affiliation.
Pelosi highlighted Chan's personal journey as a key reason for backing her. Born in Hong Kong, Chan immigrated to San Francisco at age 13 with her mother and younger brother, the family settling in a one-bedroom apartment in Chinatown. If elected, she would become the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in Congress.
"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."
The endorsement marks Pelosi's first public position in the race. As a towering figure in Democratic politics and a San Francisco icon, her backing carries weight in a district where she remains popular and her name still carries real currency. The timing, with ballots already going out to voters, suggests an effort to shore up Chan's position in the closing weeks of the primary.
Ocasio-Cortez, whose former staffer Chakrabarti is running, has not endorsed anyone in the race.
Author James Rodriguez: "Pelosi's late entry into a race she stayed out of for months tells you everything about how unsettled this primary really is."
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