Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has thrown her considerable political weight behind San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan in the race to succeed her in Congress — but the effort is running into stiff headwinds, according to a new report from The Daily Wire.
Pelosi endorsed Chan just two weeks before California’s June primary, hoping to steer her longtime congressional seat to a Democrat of her choosing. Chan did advance to the November general election, but because of California’s top-two primary system — where the top two vote-getters move on regardless of party — she will face another Democrat in the fall: state Sen. Scott Wiener, a far-left legislator who has made no secret of his ambitions for the seat.
A Rivalry With Complicated Roots
Wiener’s path to the race has been a source of intrigue in San Francisco political circles. He had previously said he would not challenge Pelosi until she announced her retirement, but he jumped into the race last October — before Pelosi revealed she would not seek another term. That timing has fueled speculation that Pelosi’s aggressive backing of Chan is at least partly motivated by frustration with Wiener for jumping the gun.
Others have floated a more personal angle: Wiener’s early entry may have undercut a potential run from Christine Pelosi, the former speaker’s daughter and a longtime political operative. Christine is currently running for Wiener’s state Senate seat, and her mother has voiced full support for that campaign.
“She wants to have her own path in California, which I love,” Pelosi said, per The Daily Wire. “There was never any thought that she would run for my seat, although they like to use that because they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Christine Pelosi, who is also backing Chan over Wiener, similarly denied any family feud: “With respect, some of us do things for positive reasons.”
The Woman Factor
Nancy Pelosi, for her part, denies any animus toward Wiener over his early campaign launch. Instead, she says her primary motivation is ensuring that women retain a seat at the table. She discussed the race at a recent event marking the 106th anniversary of the 19th Amendment — which guaranteed women the right to vote — and argued that women are losing power and she wanted to reverse that trend.
“Nobody knows Congress better than I do. Nobody. And I think she would be the best member of Congress,” Pelosi said of Chan.
But despite Pelosi’s reputation as a master deal-maker and world-class fundraiser, her influence may not be enough to close the gap.
Cash and Support Lagging
Since declaring her candidacy last November, Chan has raised roughly $1.1 million. Wiener, in contrast, has pulled in more than $4.5 million — a more than four-to-one advantage that could prove decisive in an expensive San Francisco district race.
Pelosi’s on-the-ground efforts haven’t moved the needle either. Her attempts to get legendary labor leader Dolores Huerta to endorse Chan — in addition to Wiener — fell flat. And Democratic power broker Susie Tompkins Buell, co-founder of Esprit clothing, openly questioned why Pelosi was backing someone with so little legislative experience.
“It’s not about any woman. It’s about the right woman,” Buell said, per The Daily Wire. “Connie Chan is a place where progress goes to die.”
A Tight Race Ahead
Recent polling shows Chan gaining ground, but she still trails Wiener slightly. With the general election approaching, the question is whether Pelosi’s endorsement can overcome the fundraising and institutional support that Wiener has amassed — and whether the former speaker’s kingmaking power remains as potent as it once was.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/nancy-pelosis-attempt-to-pick-her-successor-isnt-going-as-planned