Pelosi Boosts Connie Chan in June 2 Race for Her 39-Year House Seat
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 11
Pelosi Boosts Connie Chan in June 2 Race for Her 39-Year House Seat
3 articles · Updated · CNN · May 11
Weeks before San Francisco’s June 2 primary, Nancy Pelosi called Connie Chan “a great member of Congress,” her clearest public signal yet in the race to replace her after 39 years in the House.
Pelosi still has not formally endorsed, but she has appeared at Chan events, praised her fundraising and highlighted the prospect of sending the city’s first Asian American member of Congress to Washington.
Chan is pitching herself as a labor-backed, immigrant-rooted alternative to state Sen. Scott Wiener and self-funded outsider Saikat Chakrabarti, who has lent his campaign $4.8 million.
The contest has become a proxy fight over San Francisco Democratic politics—establishment delivery versus insurgent activism—as the top two finishers advance to November, when Pelosi could weigh in more decisively.
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San Francisco’s 2026 Congressional Race: Pelosi’s Exit, the Fight for Second Place, and the Future of Democratic Power
Overview
The 2026 San Francisco congressional race is the most competitive in generations, following Nancy Pelosi’s retirement after nearly forty years. Pelosi’s strategic silence on endorsements, especially her tacit preference for Connie Chan and clear disfavor of Saikat Chakrabarti, has shaped the race. The contest centers on whether Chan’s strong labor backing and community outreach, energized by Pelosi’s perceived support, can overcome Chakrabarti’s massive self-funding and unconventional media tactics. Scott Wiener leads as the frontrunner, but the real battle is for second place. The outcome will influence San Francisco’s political direction, Asian American representation, and the Democratic Party’s future strategies.