In a major late-stage development for the race to succeed her, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday officially endorsed San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to fill her seat in California’s 11th congressional district.
Pelosi’s backing comes as the race tightens significantly. Recent polling indicates Chan is currently deadlocked for second place with Saikat Chakrabarti, a wealthy former tech engineer. Both candidates trail the current frontrunner, Democratic California State Senator Scott Weiner, who enters the final stretch as the most widely recognized name in the field.
The endorsement marks a critical juncture for the district, which Pelosi has represented for nearly four decades since winning a special election in 1987.
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“I know and love this district. I know the Congress. And I know Connie. I’m proud to endorse Democrat Connie Chan and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress,” Pelosi said in a statement.
In an accompanying letter sent to local residents, Pelosi emphasized that the supervisor is ready for the national stage. “Connie Chan is the leader best prepared to carry forward the fight for San Francisco in the Congress of the United States,” Pelosi wrote. “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.” Pelosi also noted that Chan’s background as a Chinese immigrant would bring a “unique perspective” to Washington.
Chan’s campaign platform centers heavily on labor rights and immigration reform. According to her official campaign website, she has deep ties to labor unions and has pledged to strengthen worker protections, raise wages, and combat wage theft. Her platform also calls for an explicit fight against what her website characterizes as “inhumane abuses” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Additionally, Chan’s website notes her support for gender-affirming surgeries and medical procedures for transgender individuals.
The endorsement arrives at a volatile moment for Chan’s closest competitors. Chakrabarti, who previously served as chief of staff to New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has frequently targeted Pelosi in his campaign rhetoric. His campaign has hit several roadblocks in recent weeks, including a wave of negative television ads funded by a tech-aligned super PAC supporting Weiner that questioned Chakrabarti’s roots in San Francisco. Furthermore, his former employer, Representative Ocasio-Cortez, has repeatedly declined to issue an endorsement in the race.
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Meanwhile, Weiner’s campaign has faced its own friction within traditional party circles. The state senator reportedly frustrated members of Pelosi’s inner circle by launching his congressional bid just weeks after she announced her upcoming retirement. During his tenure in the California State Senate, Weiner has introduced multiple legislative items focused on LGBTQ+ issues, including bills allowing minors to access puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries. He also authored a 2020 bill, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, that granted judges more discretion in registering sex offenders in cases where the offender was no more than ten years older than a minor victim.
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