Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed the candidate Connie Chan to replace her in Congress, reversing her earlier decision to stay out of the contentious race.

Pelosi said Chan, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, “stands above” the other candidates running to represent the San Francisco district in Congress — a slate that includes Saikat Chakrabarti and Scott Wiener, who both entered the race before Pelosi had announced her retirement.

“At a time when fundamental freedoms and democratic values are under assault, we need a leader in Congress who is prepared to fight — forcefully and effectively,” Pelosi said in a statement Monday. A full video announcement is expected Tuesday.

Chan was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to San Francisco as a teenager. She has served on the city’s board of supervisors since 2020, sometimes entering clashes with fellow Democrats, including her votes against streamlining housing development proposals in favor of offering direct federal grants.

Wiener, a state senator, has led the race for months ahead of the state’s June 2 primaries. Chan has trailed in fundraising and often polls below Chakrabarti, who is largely self-funding his campaign. Pelosi’s endorsement could give Chan a last-minute edge in the race, as the top two candidates will advance under the state’s open primary system.

Chakrabarti has criticized establishment figures like Pelosi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries throughout his campaign. He has also failed to garner endorsements from major elected officials — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for whom he served as chief of staff during the New York Democrat’s first term.

“While the other candidates in this race are focused on political insiders, we’ll continue talking directly with voters about the issues that matter most to them,” a Chakrabarti spokesperson said Monday.

“Whoever wins in November will have giant stilettos to fill,” Wiener said in a statement following Pelosi’s surprise endorsement.