In Race For Pelosi's Seat, Her Famed Political Influence Was A Factor — But Just One

Even connected her measurement out, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) — 86 and retiring — held sway.

Last month, successful nan last agelong of nan title to switch her, Pelosi endorsed Connie Chan, a personnel of nan San Francisco committee of supervisors and a campaigner who had until past struggled to summation traction. The move intelligibly had an effect, pinch Chan advancing retired of Tuesday’s superior to nan wide predetermination successful November, according to nan Associated Press.

Political observers were speedy to statement that Pelosi’s famed governmental power was live and well, arsenic made clear arsenic of Wednesday greeting by Chan’s bounding past nan third-place finisher, tech millionaire and Democratic governmental operative Saikat Chakrabarti, who self-funded his run to nan tune of astir $10 million.

But formed different way, nan race’s early results besides showed nan limits of Pelosi’s power — successful nan shape of authorities Sen. Scott Wiener, who arsenic of Wednesday greeting was intelligibly nan race’s front-runner, holding a double-digit lead complete some Chan and Chakrabarti.

Wiener — an eager and prolific authorities lawmaker pinch a beardown guidelines successful San Francisco, peculiarly successful nan wide bastion’s LGBTQ+ organization — has agelong eyed nan spot but held disconnected from moving for years successful deference to Pelosi, a trailblazing leader and 1 of nan astir powerful of her generation. She was nan first female ever elected House Speaker successful 2007 and oversaw some of President Trump’s first-term impeachments.

However, that changed successful precocious October, erstwhile Wiener, 56, announced he couldn’t hold immoderate longer and would beryllium moving this year. His announcement came earlier Pelosi had announced her ain plans, amid broader statement backlash against gerontocracy and aged incumbents holding connected wrong nan aging Democratic establishment, and it appeared to irk her.

In early November, soon aft California voters passed Proposition 50 to let Democrats to redraw nan state’s legislature districts to amended favour Democrats — an inaugural she helped spearhead — nan still influential Pelosi announced she would retire.

In that announcement, Pelosi thanked San Francisco voters for giving her wide latitude to beryllium a fearless sound successful Washington. She hadn’t faced a superior predetermination situation since nan Reagan administration. In her past race, successful 2024, she won reelection pinch 81% of nan vote.

Pelosi past waited until past period to endorse Chan arsenic her chosen successor.

Chan, 47, who was calved successful Hong Kong and immigrated to San Francisco pinch her family astatine property 13, was first elected to nan committee of supervisors successful 2020, and has been chair of its fund committee since February 2023. Before winning office, she was a Chinese expert and past an adjutant for astir 15 years to respective different Democratic politicians from nan Bay Area, including then-San Francisco Dist. Atty. Kamala Harris.

Other constitution figures, specified arsenic Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and erstwhile San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, endorsed Chan arsenic well.

Last week, Pelosi said she’d decided to measurement successful and backmost Chan successful portion because, aft spending years boosting women into positions of power, she’d realized location weren’t capable astir anymore.

“It’s not astir women being amended than men; it’s that we person to person women astatine nan table,” she told NBC News.

At her predetermination nighttime party, Chan told nan SF Standard that Pelosi’s endorsement “absolutely changed nan tide” successful nan race, delivering a “fatal punch” connected behalf of her campaign.

But that punch, if devastating to Chakrabarti’s campaign, had intelligibly not knocked retired Wiener — who was fresh Tuesday nighttime pinch a fewer punches of his ain successful a reside to his supporters.

“Tonight, San Franciscans sent a very clear message,” he said, according to shared remarks. “San Franciscans are fresh for bold leadership, existent results, and a caller procreation of leaders that isn’t acrophobic to return connected nan toughest fights facing our country.”

Wiener, who served successful nan San Francisco committee of supervisors himself earlier winning predetermination to nan authorities Senate successful 2016, said successful this governmental moment, “we can’t spend authorities that simply sphere nan position quo.”

He said, “I’m not going to Washington to beryllium quietly, protect nan position quo, aliases hold my turn.”

“I’m going to conflict relentlessly for Medicare for all, to build millions of homes, to make nationalist transit much expansive and reliable, for affordable cleanable energy, for moving families, for civilian rights, and for populist itself,” he said. “I’m going to conflict to protect our migrant neighbors, LGBTQ people, reproductive freedom, and nan norm of rule — and to protect them from Donald Trump and MAGA extremism.”

Others, including galore successful nan LGBTQ+ community, besides shouted nan beardown showing from Wiener, who is cheery and has agelong championed LGBTQ+ rights. Kelley Robinson, president of nan LGBTQ+ authorities statement Human Rights Campaign, said her statement was “thrilled.”

“We request much voices for illustration Wiener successful Washington. Not only would he grow nan number of openly LGBTQ+ members of Congress, he has a grounds of effect and delivering for his constituents,” Robinson said. “We are excited to support him connected to triumph successful November.”

With Tuesday’s superior settled, a caller head-to-head title for Pelosi’s spot originates — 1 that, fixed her endorsement of Chan and Wiener’s intentional attraction connected pulling San Francisco successful a caller direction, will beryllium an moreover clearer referendum connected her influence.