Nancy Pelosi went all in to anoint Connie Chan as her successor. It didn’t work

Connie Chan and Nancy Pelosi rally voters on May 30, 2026.

Nancy Pelosi went all in to anoint Connie Chan as her successor. It didn’t work

TL;DR

  • Nancy Pelosi endorsed Connie Chan to succeed her in the House, investing significant campaign resources.
  • Scott Wiener won the race, with Connie Chan conceding the election.
  • This defeat is seen as a sign of Pelosi's diminishing influence in local San Francisco politics, though her national legacy remains strong.
  • Pelosi has endorsed several losing candidates in local races over the past three years.
  • Wiener outraised Chan, particularly with funding from political action committees.
  • Pelosi's endorsement of Chan appeared partly motivated by a personal rift with Wiener.
  • Despite Pelosi's efforts, polls showed Wiener leading among voters who approved of Pelosi.
  • Pelosi's daughter, Christine, is running for state Senate to replace Wiener.