Pelosi's Hometown Paper is backing her, considering the calendar

Political insiders and many San Franciscans in general widely expected this year to be Nancy Pelosi's swan song.

The former speaker, who is 83 and has represented the city in Congress for 37 years, saw Republicans take control of the House of Representatives last year and has handed over her leadership of House Democrats to Hakeem Jeffries.

And her high political profile in a liberal city that many conservatives love to hate appeared to be a factor in the brutal October 2022 hammer attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, at their San Francisco home. A far-right conspiracy theorist, David DePape, was found guilty of attempted kidnapping and assault in the attack, and admitted during his trial that he planned to take Nancy Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps.”

For many people, that would all be enough to get them thinking about retirement — but not for Mrs. Pelosi. She will run for a new two-year term in November, with no major challenger in sight. Her re-election bid was received last weekend the endorsement of her hometown newspaperThe San Francisco Chronicle.

That's no surprise: The newspaper has long supported Ms. Pelosi's campaigns for office and leadership positions among Democrats in the House of Representatives, and it occasionally sends notes to its journalists complimenting their work.

But this time, as the newspaper said, there was a catch.

The editorial board, which normally does not conduct endorsement interviews for candidates without serious challengers, this time praised Ms. Pelosi's “strength as a political leader” in her endorsement, noting that she was “tough, charming and pragmatic” when they met. with the board.

But it also raised major concerns, saying that Mrs. Pelosi would not be a policy innovator at this late stage in her career, and her insistence on investigations into financial ties between Russia and protesters calling for a ceasefire in Israel questioned. Hamas war.

The administration also suggested she make room in Washington for younger Democrats from San Francisco, especially Scott Wiener, a senator who wants to take her seat someday but doesn't want to run against her.

Mr. Wiener is known as one of California's most innovative voices on building more housing. He argues that densely populated cities help tackle climate change by letting people live near work and avoid long, exhaust-spewing car journeys.

Mr. Wiener said in an interview that Mrs. Pelosi “continues to put victories on the plate for San Francisco values” and that he fully supports her.

Mrs. Pelosi's spokesman, Aaron Bennett, said she had no plans to slow down.

“Speaker Pelosi is off duty, she is on a mission,” he said. “This election is about the future, and at this pivotal moment for our city, there is no one better equipped to continue delivering for San Francisco than Nancy Pelosi.”

Although Mrs. Pelosi is advanced in age, there is no talk among San Franciscans that she may have lost a step, as there has been for several years about Senator Dianne Feinstein — and as there is now national stage is about President Biden and the Senate. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, both 81 years old.

Alex Clemens, a longtime San Francisco political strategist, said it was true that Ms. Pelosi's eventual retirement would set off a round of political musical chairs that many younger officeholders are eagerly awaiting. But it's also true, he said, that she shows no signs of slowing down.

“She continues to operate a schedule that is exhausting her bi-coastal workforce,” he said.

Mrs. Pelosi has also proven adept at raising money for other Democrats and at getting under Donald Trump, two skills that will be in high demand this year.

“If ever there was a man behind the curtain, it's a woman, and she's Nancy Pelosi,” Mr. Clemens said. “She continues to run things with a more deft touch than any other figure in American politics.”

She and Paul Pelosi, who looked fit and recovered from the attack, have been busy. Last month, dressed in a black dress and black tuxedo, they co-chaired the San Francisco Ballet's opening night gala dinner at City Hall.

Mr. Pelosi attended a fundraiser for San Francisco General Hospital last week and told the crowd, both in a recorded video and from his table, about the care he received there after the attack. He then called Mrs. Pelosi from Washington, who also thanked the hospital.

The couple attended the Super Bowl on Saturday morning and flew to Las Vegas on a bus.

Tennyson Wilson, a passenger on the flight who sat next to the Pelosis, told reporters at public radio station KQED that he was impressed by Mrs. Pelosi's productivity during the short flight.

“I think she read about five newspapers,” he said in the interview. “It was cool to see the machine working. It was like sitting next to your grandmother, but doing a lot more work.”