EXCLUSIVEFORSUBSCRIBERSThe first female speaker of the House endorsed Connie Chan for her seat in Congress, telling NBC News in an exclusive interview: “I want to make sure that people know that she can win.”Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., during an event in San Francisco on April 10.Benjamin Fanjoy / Getty Images fileMay 28, 2026, 3:37 PM EDTWASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi did not plan to endorse anyone in the race to succeed her in Congress. But after noting how many women who used to represent California have been replaced by men, the former speaker felt she had to step in for a female candidate, she told NBC News in an exclusive interview.Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.
Nancy Pelosi weighs in on the race to succeed her as she fights to keep women ‘at the table’
The first female speaker of the House endorsed Connie Chan for her seat in Congress, telling NBC News in an exclusive interview: “I want to make sure that people know that she can win.”
TL;DRAI
Nancy Pelosi endorsed Connie Chan to succeed her in Congress, abandoning her plan to stay neutral after observing that women representing California are increasingly being replaced by men. The move is a direct signal to preserve female representation in her district, with Pelosi publicly vouching for Chan's electability ahead of the race.
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