Pelosi backed Supervisor Connie Chan over polling leader Scott Wiener and former AOC chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti two weeks before the June 2 primary.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on May 18 endorsed San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan in the race to succeed her in California’s 11th Congressional District, picking Chan over the field’s polling leader and a candidate aligned with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) two weeks before the June 2 primary.
“I know and love this district. I know the Congress, and I know Connie,” Pelosi said in a video clip posted to Instagram. “I’m proud to endorse Democrat Connie Chan and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress.”
Pelosi, who announced her retirement on Nov. 6 after representing San Francisco in the House since 1987, passed over state Sen. Scott Wiener, a 17-year state legislator long viewed as a possible successor to the 85-year-old congresswoman.
A San Francisco Chronicle poll released before the endorsement showed about 40 percent of respondents either planned to vote for Wiener or leaned toward him.
Former AOC chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti and Chan were in a statistical tie at 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Former Republican Marie Hurabiell was in a distant fourth at 5 percent, and 13 percent of respondents said they would vote for another candidate.
California operates a top-two primary, in which the two leading vote-getters advance to the November general election regardless of party.
Wiener praised Pelosi in a statement to CalMatters and did not directly reference the endorsement.
“I have tremendous respect for Speaker Emerita Pelosi and deep gratitude for everything she has done for our city and our country,” Wiener told the outlet. “Whoever wins in November will have giant stilettos to fill.”
The Epoch Times contacted Wiener for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
Wiener’s highest profile endorsements come from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and members of Congress Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Josh Harder (D-Calif.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), and Scott Peters (D-Calif.).
By Chase Smith
