Nancy Pelosi Endorses Connie Chung for Congress
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has officially endorsed Connie Chung, a fellow progressive and current member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, after months of deliberation.
Voters in Pelosi’s traditionally liberal district will go to the polls in two weeks to select the top two candidates for the upcoming November general election.
In a brief video alongside Chan, set against the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pelosi declared, “I know this district, I love it, I know this Congress, I know Connie. I am proud to support Democrat Connie Chan and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress.”
Pelosi’s endorsement holds significant weight in the campaign, given her nearly four-decade representation of San Francisco in Congress. As the first female Speaker of the House and a notable liberal figure, she also has a reputation as one of the party’s most effective fundraisers. Hers is a network that Chan is expected to tap into for campaign resources.
After announcing her retirement in November, Pelosi left room for speculation regarding her potential successor. Two prominent candidates, State Sen. Scott Weiner and Saikat Chakrabarti, a former tech executive and co-founder of the progressive group Justice Democrats, had already declared their intent to run even before Pelosi’s announcement.
Chan formally entered the congressional race soon after Pelosi’s retirement announcement. “I remember the first time I saw San Francisco when I was 13 years old. I didn’t speak a word of English, but I had heard that it was a sanctuary city where anything was possible,” Chan explained in a statement. “To be endorsed by the Honorable Speaker Nancy Pelosi as her successor in Congress is truly special. That’s San Francisco; that’s the city we’re fighting for.”
Chan began her career as a community organizer and volunteer Chinese interpreter. She served as a legislative aide to former Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and later worked with Kamala Harris when Harris was the District Attorney of San Francisco. Since 2021, Chan has been a member of the Board of Supervisors and also chairs the budget committee.
Earlier discussions had centered on the possibility of Pelosi’s daughter, Christine Pelosi, being groomed as her successor. However, Christine opted to run for Weiner’s state Senate seat instead. While Pelosi has shown her support for Chan, she had previously stated, “That’s not my current plan” when asked about endorsing a successor.
Pelosi’s endorsement signifies a remarkable turnaround in her approach. In a two-minute video set to be released soon, she stated, “Over the past six months, San Franciscans have had the opportunity to hear candidates for Congress present their visions for our city and country. I believe one candidate stands out.” She subsequently highlighted Chan’s capabilities, stating, “Connie Chung is the leader most poised to advance the fight for San Francisco in the United States Congress.”
In contrast, Chakrabarti dismissed Pelosi’s endorsement, asserting that he is not seeking support from the Democratic establishment. “Last year, I decided to run for Congress against Nancy Pelosi because I know we need a new generation of leadership,” he shared on social media. “Our strategy was never to win support from the establishment but to win votes directly from the people.” He emphasized that his campaign is built on addressing the needs of constituents frustrated with the status quo.
