San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan on Thursday launched her campaign to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is set to retire after nearly four decades in Congress.

First elected to the board in 2020, Chan represents District 1, covering the Richmond District, Sea Cliff, Presidio Terrace and other neighborhoods in the northwestern part of the city. Chan has also served as the chair of the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee since 2023.

The supervisor paid homage to Pelosi in a statement announcing her campaign.

"I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and fought for the same values," Chan said. "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. I'm ready to fight for all of us."

Born in Hong Kong, Chan moved to San Francisco at the age of 13 with her mother and younger brother, eventually obtaining a rent-controlled apartment in the city's Chinatown. She is a graduate of Galileo High School in the city and the University of California, Davis.

Chan's political career began in 2006, when she was recruited by then-Supervisor Sophie Maxwell as a legislative aide, working to shut down the Potrero Power Plant. She then served as a public safety and communications aide and liaison to the AAPI community for Kamala Harris, who was the district attorney at the time.

Chan has also served as a legislative aide to then-Supervisor Aaron Peskin and a representative of then-Assemblymember Kevin Mullin.

On Thursday, Chan pointed to her work on the Board of Supervisors and her role as chair of the city's budget committee as evidence she's delivered for San Francisco.

"I have been a strong voice for our communities in San Francisco," Chan said. "But I have also been pragmatic and strategic … making sure we have delivered the resources that our city needs."

Two other candidates so far have announced campaigns for Pelosi's seat, including state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Saikat Chakrabarti, a former tech executive the former chief of staff of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Both reacted to Chan's entry in interviews with CBS News Bay Area

"I feel like a lot of politics gets defined in opposition to the other side," Chakrabarti said. "I'd put both Connie and Scott in how they define each other. I'm trying to bring something new, I'm trying to talk about the problems we face."

Wiener struck a sharper tone.

"He's never delivered for San Francisco, never done a thing for the community, and is essentially trying to buy the election," Wiener said of Chakrabarti. "And I have a new opponent today who has been really unsuccessful getting anything done at the Board of Supervisors."

Within hours of Chan announcing her run, Wiener released an internal poll from the summer showing his favorability at 61%, almost double Chan's, and touted a fresh endorsement from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

Meanwhile, former San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced Wednesday that she would not run for the seat.

In a video announcing her campaign, Chan said she was not a "corporate Democrat" and did not make money in tech.

"This election is about local neighborhoods versus outside money," Chan said. "I'm a working mom -- I make lunch for my kid."

Chan, who has never held statewide office, argues she's the best fit to represent San Francisco in D.C.

"Instead of dividing our community and getting stuck in this space, I bring stakeholders together," she said. "We are going to talk about important issues that actually impact everyday people."

If elected, Chan would become the first Asian American to represent San Francisco in Congress. It's an advantage that political analyst David McCuan says matters.

"That becomes a key ingredient because not only do you lock in those Chinese American voters, you also lock in their dollars," said McCuan.

Chan says she's ready to follow Pelosi, America's first and only woman Speaker of the House and that she's used to being underestimated.

"Look, we have been underestimated as far back as my first race," she said. "But here we are. We just won't give up."

Pelosi announced on Nov. 6 that she will retire from Congress after her term ends. The 85-year-old was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1987.