Progressive San Francisco lawmaker Connie Chan has officially entered the race to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, setting the stage for a competitive Democratic primary for one of California's most prominent congressional seats.
A Race for Representation
Connie Chan, a 47-year-old member of San Francisco's board of supervisors, announced her candidacy on Thursday with a focus on what she described as "local neighborhoods versus outside money." The announcement comes just two weeks after Pelosi revealed her decision to retire after nearly four decades representing San Francisco in the US House of Representatives.
In her two-minute launch video shared across social media platforms, Chan emphasised her commitment to making San Francisco accessible to all residents. "San Francisco belongs to everyone, not just the wealthy few – not just the powerful," she declared. "I'm running for Congress for all the people who are being shut out by the system."
Progressive Credentials and Personal Journey
Chan brings substantial progressive credentials to the race, having established herself as a strong ally of labour unions during her time in San Francisco politics. She first won her seat on the board of supervisors in 2020, narrowly defeating a former senior adviser to Mayor London Breed, and secured re-election in 2024 with Pelosi's endorsement.
Her personal story reflects the immigrant experience central to San Francisco's identity. Born in Hong Kong, Chan immigrated to the United States at age 13 with her mother and younger brother. The family settled in a one-bedroom apartment in the city's Chinatown neighbourhood. If elected, she would become the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in Congress.
A Crowded Field of Contenders
The race to replace Pelosi has attracted several prominent Democrats. State senator Scott Wiener, known for his work on housing and LGBTQ+ rights, has entered the contest. Another challenger is Saikat Chakrabarti, a former Silicon Valley engineer who previously served as chief of staff to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Chan's announcement video includes subtle distinctions between herself and her opponents. She promotes her support for building "real affordable housing – not the Sacramento version that destroys our neighborhoods" and appears to reference Chakrabarti's tech background and ability to self-fund his campaign. "I'm not a corporate Democrat. I didn't make money in tech," Chan states in the video. "I'm a working mom. I made lunch for my kid."
Pelosi has not endorsed any candidate in the race to succeed her and has indicated she has no immediate plans to do so. However, Chan pays tribute to the outgoing representative in her campaign video, stating "I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and fought for the same values" as a photograph of the two politicians together appears on screen.
The political landscape shifted further when Mayor London Breed announced earlier this week that she would not seek Pelosi's seat, removing another potential heavyweight from the contest.
