Pelosi's Endorsement Shapes San Francisco Congressional Primary

Representative Nancy Pelosi, in her final term as speaker, endorsed San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for the open seat. State Senator Scott Wiener leads the June 2 jungle primary, with Chan and former AOC chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti trailing. The top two advance to a November runoff.

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Pelosi, the first woman speaker and ACA architect, has long been a decisive vote-counter. California’s top-two primary forces all candidates to court a broad electorate, making endorsements potent but uncertain. Her video endorsement arrived May 18, two weeks before Election Day.

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• May 3-7: EMC Research poll of 542 likely voters shows Wiener 38 %, Chan 22 %, Chakrabarti 21 %.

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• May 18: Pelosi releases a video endorsement of Chan.

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• June 2: Primary election.

Newsweek

The poll shows Wiener at 38 %, Chan 22 %, Chakrabarti 21 %. Pelosi’s wealth rose from $30 million to $278 million, with her portfolio beating the S-P 500 by nearly 200 % in 2024. Unlimited campaign money could outweigh establishment support.

Newsweek

Pelosi called Chan “the leader best prepared to carry forward the fight for San Francisco in the Congress of the United States,” praising her grasp of the city’s diversity. Her office said her husband independently manages the family’s investments, denying personal involvement. Chan said the race is about delivering for working people and bringing a “San Francisco voice” to Washington.

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Political scientist David McCuan said Chan’s ground campaign is “underwhelmed,” questioning the endorsement’s ability to offset limited outreach. Strategist Jim Ross warned the race is driven by economics, not ideology, and that self-funded billionaires could dominate. Matt Bennett of Third Way framed the field as two establishment candidates (Chan, Wiener) versus a radical challenger (Chakrabarti), implying a Chan or Wiener win would reject the DSA-Justice Democrats platform.

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Sources differ on how much Pelosi’s endorsement will shift voter preferences; Wiener’s poll lead remains sizable, yet analysts dispute its measurable impact. The effect of Pelosi’s wealth on voter perception is also unquantified.

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• “We want to bring a San Francisco voice and San Francisco values to Washington," she said.” — Connie Chan, San Francisco Supervisor

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• “The issue in this campaign is not ideological or generational but economic," Ross told Newsweek.” — Jim Ross, California political strategist

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The race reflects Democratic tensions between establishment influence and grassroots insurgency, and underscores money’s role after Citizens United. Outcomes may reveal voter preference for moderate versus radical candidates, informing national House strategies.

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If Chan finishes third, Pelosi’s sway wanes and the top two will contest a November runoff. Democrats nationwide are watching for clues on winning competitive House seats in the 2024 midterms.

Newsweek