San Francisco’s political landscape shifted dramatically on November 20, 2025, as Supervisor Connie Chan officially launched her campaign for Congress, seeking to fill the seat long held by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. The announcement, made just two weeks after Pelosi’s own retirement declaration, set the stage for a historic and fiercely contested race in one of the nation’s most progressive cities.
Chan’s campaign is more than just another entry into a crowded field; if successful, she would become the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in Congress—a milestone in a city where over 30% of residents are of Asian descent. Born in Hong Kong, Chan immigrated to the United States at age 13, arriving in San Francisco with her mother and younger brother. The family settled in a rent-controlled apartment in Chinatown, a detail Chan has highlighted to underscore her working-class roots and her commitment to representing all San Franciscans, not just the wealthy or powerful.
“I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and fought for the same values,” Chan said in her campaign launch video, as reported by KGO. “Their work made it possible for an immigrant family like mine to come to America, work hard and succeed. Now I need to stand up to fight for other families who are under attack, who are worried about paying the bills and who need an advocate in Congress.”
Chan’s journey from immigrant teenager to congressional hopeful is marked by decades of public service and community advocacy. She attended Galileo High School before earning her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Davis. Her early political career included serving as a legislative aide to former Supervisors Sophie Maxwell and Aaron Peskin, as well as working as a communications aide for then-District Attorney Kamala Harris, focusing on outreach to the Asian American community.
First elected as District 1 supervisor in 2020, Chan represents a diverse swath of San Francisco, from the working-class neighborhoods of the Richmond District to the exclusive Sea Cliff area, where Pelosi herself resides. Reelected in 2024 with Pelosi’s endorsement, Chan has also served as Chair of the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee and sits on several city commissions, including the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and the Free City College Oversight Committee.
Chan’s tenure on the Board of Supervisors has been defined by her progressive stances, particularly her advocacy for tenant protections and immigrant rights. She has often found herself aligned with the city’s progressive bloc, though she’s also struck legislative deals with moderate Democrats, including current Mayor Daniel Lurie. Her approach has sometimes put her at odds with other city leaders, most notably State Senator Scott Wiener, who is also running for Pelosi’s seat and is considered a front-runner due to his statewide profile and support for housing development.
Housing policy, in fact, has emerged as a major fault line in the race. Chan has championed affordability and tenant protections, supporting a 2022 ballot measure (Proposition E) that sought stricter affordability requirements for new housing—a measure that ended up competing with Wiener’s Proposition D, which was aimed at accelerating housing construction. Both measures ultimately failed, and supporters of Prop D blamed the confusion caused by the rival initiatives. “Its sole purpose was to muddy the waters,” said Todd David, a longtime housing activist now working for Wiener, in comments to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Chan’s critics, including Wiener and his allies, argue that her policies have impeded efforts to address San Francisco’s housing shortage. Wiener recently took to social media to lambaste Chan’s amendments to Mayor Lurie’s “Family Zoning” plan, which would have banned the demolition of existing homes under new rezoning proposals. “San Francisco’s cost of living is through the roof & our city’s extreme housing costs are pushing people out,” Wiener wrote, accusing Chan of making housing even more expensive.
But Chan has pushed back, accusing Wiener of promoting “one-size-fits-all housing policies” and embracing “trickle down economics.” In a newsletter to her constituents, Chan wrote, “If our elected leaders do not have the will to defend San Francisco, we will put the power back to the people.”
Chan’s support from labor unions and progressive organizations remains a cornerstone of her campaign. Larry Mazzola Jr., a union official and president of UA Local 38, told the Chronicle, “She’s been absolutely rock-solid with working people, just like Nancy Pelosi. She backs the workers every time. There’s just no question.” Chan’s advocacy for legal provisions requiring union labor on housing projects has won her endorsements from key labor groups, though some critics argue that these requirements can increase construction costs.
Her legislative record also includes efforts to support the city’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. In 2022, she helped create a $30 million fund for organizations serving these communities, a move that came as Asian Americans faced a surge in hate crimes and discrimination during the pandemic. “We need to fight for those resources to make San Francisco better, and more support,” Chan told KTVU, outlining her priorities of maintaining San Francisco’s status as a sanctuary city, ensuring affordability, and expanding access to healthcare, education, and fair wages.
Not all of Chan’s positions have been universally popular. She opposed the high-profile recalls of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin and three school board members—recalls that were strongly backed by many Asian voters. She has also faced criticism for a 2020 remark suggesting it was “time to dismantle and restructure our police department,” a statement her campaign later clarified was aimed at dismantling racism, not the police itself. In practice, Chan has repeatedly voted to increase the police budget and lobbied for more resources for her district.
Chan’s entry into the congressional race comes at a time of generational change in San Francisco politics. Pelosi, who has represented the city in Congress since 1987 and served as Speaker of the House, has yet to endorse a successor and has indicated she has no current plans to do so. The open seat has attracted a growing field of candidates, including State Senator Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti, a former aide to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a political activist with significant financial resources.
Despite not being a household name, Chan has long been a fixture in San Francisco politics. Former Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who appointed her as budget chair, praised her ability to manage the city’s spending plans during a period of fiscal scarcity. “No detail went unanalyzed by her and her staff,” Peskin told the Chronicle. “She was able to do pretty incredible work in an environment of increasing scarcity, and she did it responsibly and she listened to people. Different organizations—left, right and center—felt included and consulted and listened to.”
As the campaign unfolds, Chan’s ability to build a broad coalition will be tested. David Ho, a Chinatown political power broker, predicted “a lot of excitement from even conservative Chinese Americans who historically would not have supported Connie’s candidacy, but they will.” For her part, Chan has positioned herself as a fighter for those “shut out by the system,” determined to deliver for San Francisco’s diverse communities.
With the city at a crossroads and a rare open seat in Congress up for grabs, San Francisco voters are poised to witness a contest that will not only determine Pelosi’s successor but also signal the city’s political direction for years to come.
