Nancy Pelosi Endorses Connie Chan for Congressional Seat Amidst Competitive Race

<p>Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has endorsed San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan in an effort to influence the selection of her successor for her congressional seat. Pelosi endorsed Chan two weeks before California's June primary, but it remains uncertain whether her influence will be sufficient to secure Chan's advancement in the election.</p><p>Under California's top-two primary system, Chan will compete against another Democrat, state Senator Scott Wiener, in the November election. Wiener has expressed his intention to run for Pelosi's seat, having entered the race last October prior to Pelosi's announcement that she would not seek another term.</p><p>The timing of Wiener's campaign launch has led to speculation that Pelosi's support for Chan is driven by frustration with Wiener. Additionally, some have suggested that Pelosi's backing of Chan is a response to Wiener's early announcement, which may have affected the potential candidacy of Christine Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi's daughter, who is currently running for Wiener's state Senate seat.</p><p>Nancy Pelosi stated, "She wants to have her own path in California, which I love. There was never any thought that she would run for my seat, although they like to use that because they don’t know what they’re talking about." Christine Pelosi, who is also supporting Chan, denied any negative feelings towards Wiener, saying, "With respect, some of us do things for positive reasons."</p><p>Nancy Pelosi has also denied any animosity towards Wiener, asserting that her primary motivation for supporting Chan is to promote women's representation in Congress. She stated, "Nobody knows Congress better than I do. Nobody. And I think she would be the best member of Congress." Pelosi made these comments at an event celebrating the 106th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, emphasizing her belief that women are losing power and that she aims to reverse this trend.</p><p>Despite Pelosi's reputation as a skilled fundraiser and negotiator, her influence may not be enough to secure the necessary support for Chan. Since announcing her candidacy last November, Chan has raised approximately $1.1 million, while Wiener has raised over $4.5 million.</p><p>Pelosi's efforts to garner endorsements for Chan, including an attempt to secure support from labor leader Dolores Huerta, have not been successful. Democratic power broker Susie Tompkins Buell has questioned Pelosi's choice to support Chan, stating, "It’s not about any woman. It’s about the right woman. Connie Chan is a place where progress goes to die." Recent polling indicates that Chan is gaining ground but still trails slightly behind Wiener.</p>