WASHINGTON – They’ve achieved groundbreaking success before. Now, they are on a path to do it once more.

As Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took their places directly behind President Joe Biden during his inaugural speech to a joint session of Congress, a well-established tradition was taking on a fresh significance. This annual event, familiar for years, felt quite different this time.

For the very first time in history, both leaders were women.

“Madame speaker, Madame vice president: No president has ever spoken those words from this podium – and it’s about time,” Biden remarked, recognizing the historic significance of that moment on April 28, 2021.

Now, three years later, Harris aspires to create history once again by potentially becoming the nation’s first female president.

On Thursday night, as she formally accepts the Democratic nomination during the party’s national convention in Chicago, it will be partially due to Pelosi’s discreet yet impactful influence, which led to Biden stepping aside from the race just four weeks prior and cleared the way for Harris to be the nominee.

This unexpected development has reconvened the two most influential women in American politics – both hailing from the San Francisco Bay area and nurtured by the city’s Democratic political framework, they now stand at the peak of influence in Washington.

Although Harris and Pelosi hail from different generations and diverse family backgrounds and aren’t personally close, those familiar with both women have noted a shared respect borne from their ascension through San Francisco’s competitive political scene.

“I have immense respect for her, politically, officially, and personally,” Pelosi commented about Harris in a recent conversation with YSL News.

Pelosi expressed particular admiration for how swiftly Harris secured the presidential nomination following Biden’s departure, as well as her adeptness during her campaign for California attorney general over a decade ago.

“She’s someone who embodies faith and values in civic life and is deeply responsible in her community,” Pelosi praised. “She is officially very capable. You see her leadership on women’s rights as just one example, but there are many more. She has great political insight.”

Harris reciprocates with similar compliments for Pelosi.

“The future of our country depends on leaders like Nancy Pelosi, who possess the tenacity, insight, and intelligence to envision possibilities and make them a reality,” she stated at a San Francisco fundraiser last week.

The admiration each has for the other is rooted in a shared trait, according to Ashley Etienne, who previously led communications for both Pelosi and Harris.

“Perhaps it reflects their California political heritage, but they share a keen political insight and shrewdness,” Etienne noted. “Pelosi’s skills have been evident for decades, while we’re beginning to see a similar dimension to Harris’ abilities, which is both refreshing and intriguing.”

Both women exhibit the remarkable capacity to work quietly and diligently behind the scenes to achieve their goals without drawing attention to themselves, Etienne added.

“I always say Pelosi is like a master playing five-dimensional chess; she often keeps her true intentions close to the vest,” she said. “Harris shows a similar approach.”

‘A Remarkable Individual’

Harris, age 59, and Pelosi, age 84, represent different eras in politics, yet both have successfully navigated the rich activist history and traditional Democratic politics of San Francisco.

Harris was born in Oakland and raised by a single mother, a cancer researcher who was active in the civil rights movement and made a conscious effort to raise her daughters in diverse environments. Much of Harris’s childhood was spent in Canada, and she later attended Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington, where she interned in the same Senate office she would eventually occupy. Afterward, she returned to California for law school.

Conversely, Pelosi was immersed in political life from the start, being the daughter of a prominent Maryland congressman who later became mayor of Baltimore. Upon her family’s relocation to San Francisco, Pelosi engaged with the city’s political field, although she never sought local office herself. She ultimately became the chair of the California Democratic Party, orchestrated the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, and made an unsuccessful attempt to lead the national Democratic Party.

Like many major cities, San Francisco houses influential political families that play crucial roles in shaping its political arena. Both Harris and Pelosi emerged from what locals refer to as the “Burton-Brown machine.”

In the 1950s, former Democratic Rep. Phil Burton successfully united labor, civil rights advocates, as well as gay and Asian communities to reclaim political control from Republicans in the city.

“These diverse communities shared a commonality in that they were largely overlooked,” remarked Sam Lauter, a longtime associate of both Harris and Pelosi “In general, that coalition has proven to be the most effective force in San Francisco’s political arena.”

Willie Brown, a prominent political figure who was the speaker of the California State Assembly and later the mayor of San Francisco, expanded those coalitions during his tenure in the 1980s and 1990s.

When Burton passed away due to heart failure in 1983, his wife, Sala Burton, took over his position. A few years later, on her own deathbed, Sala articulated her wish for her successor: Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi’s transformation from a political operative to a political candidate was unexpected.

“I never saw Nancy Pelosi as someone driven by ambition,” Lauter commented. “No one anticipated she would become an elected official, not even herself.”

True to her nature, Pelosi not only entered the contest but also triumphed.

Lauter, who has a close family connection with Pelosi, forecasted: One day, she would be the House Speaker.

A few years later, Harris began to establish herself within the political sphere. As a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s office, she fostered relationships and formed alliances in local politics. These connections led her to a role in the San Francisco district attorney’s office, a brief romantic involvement with Brown, various state board positions, and participation in local election campaigns.

Political strategist Alex Tourk first encountered Harris in 2000 when party leaders enlisted them for help with a closely contested runoff in Rev. Amos Brown’s supervisorial campaign, who now leads the San Francisco NAACP.

“I had the chance to work alongside her for six weeks, seven days a week, 14 hours a day,” Tourk recalled. “It was evident to me then that she possesses extraordinary leadership skills and the ability to inspire others.”

Harris was elected as California’s attorney general in 2010. In 2016, following Barbara Boxer’s retirement from the U.S. Senate, Harris vied for that seat and won, returning to the same office where she had once interned under Sen. Alan Cranston during her college years. With her star continuously rising, Harris sought the presidency in 2019 but her campaign stalled, leading her to withdraw before any primary votes were cast. However, within months, Biden reached out to her after securing the Democratic nomination, offering her the vice presidential position.

He expressed his desire for Harris to be his running mate.

‘Not limited by tradition’

San Francisco, with a population of 808,437, serves as an excellent training ground for those aiming for state or national political positions.

As one of the most challenging political landscapes in the country, candidates must skillfully navigate a diverse, passionate, and actively engaged electorate.

“Our city hosts more democratic clubs and neighborhood organizations than likely any other place in America,” remarked Dale Carlson, a seasoned lobbyist and public relations consultant in San Francisco. “The residents are actively involved.  Therefore, if you rise through the political ranks here, you’ve effectively learned how to harmonize diverse and competing interests, which significantly boosts your advantage.”

Carlson also noted that San Francisco’s electorate is more moderate than many perceive, emphasizing that voters are discerning. They tend not to vote along party lines or automatically approve ballot measures simply because they are told to.

“If you succeed in San Francisco,” Carlson continued, “you’ll have an edge. You’ve refined your political skills at an advanced level.”

Navigating San Francisco’s political landscape necessitates unique coalition-building skills, according to Tourk.

“We don’t share common ground on many issues in San Francisco,” he stated. “Some might assume that in the bluest city of the bluest state, we would generally align on most matters. However, that’s not the case; it can be a dynamic environment filled with individuals pushing their specific policy agendas.”

Those who adeptly maneuver through this system, like Pelosi and Harris, apply the insights and experiences they’ve gained in San Francisco as they pursue higher office.

Harris possesses a remarkable ability to empathize with individuals in various circumstances, which resonates with the public, making her relatable, Etienne shared. “People can relate to her and see reflections of their own experiences in her narrative.”

In Washington, both Pelosi and Harris embody the California spirit, aspiring to enact significant and impactful changes for the nation, Etienne noted.

“Both are visionary thinkers,” she remarked. “They don’t let traditional boundaries restrict their ambitions.”

“They often begin with what seems impossible and then find a way to turn it into reality,” she explained.

According to Etienne, Pelosi excels in strategy while Harris has a talent for empathy.

“As Speaker, your main goal is to secure the House,” she noted. “You need to be an excellent strategist and tactician. Conversely, being the vice president or aiming for the presidency requires having a strong vision and the ability to unite and inspire people around that vision. Both women are exceptionally qualified for their respective roles.”

‘Democracy is on the Line’

Last Sunday, around 700 individuals gathered at the prestigious Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco’s upscale Nob Hill, a district known for its art, parks, and scenic bay vistas. This political fundraiser featured a guest list of tech moguls, business leaders, and prominent politicians, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has his roots in San Francisco politics as a former mayor.

Of course, Pelosi and Harris were also in attendance.

Harris made her first visit to San Francisco since securing the Democratic presidential nomination.

“It felt like a homecoming,” Tourk remarked. “How often do we get to see one of our own in line to become President of the United States?”

Pelosi was the first to speak and received a rousing standing ovation. Once the audience settled, she praised Harris and discussed the upcoming campaign, likening it to the Olympics where victories can hinge on mere seconds.

“Elections can be that close,” she said, adding, “Democracy is on the ballot, and we aim for democracy to win the gold.”

Moments later, Harris emerged to loud cheers and another standing ovation. “We will win this election,” she declared, yet cautioned, “we must not take anything for granted.”

As Harris prepares to introduce herself to voters in the coming weeks and outline her policy plans, Tourk noted it was no surprise that she returned to San Francisco first. “I believe she came back for both resources and a boost of energy,” he commented.

She certainly achieved both goals. The event generated $13 million for her burgeoning presidential campaign.

‘She Must Succeed’

Only one woman, Hillary Clinton, has ever secured a major party’s presidential nomination. If elected, Harris would be the first Black and Asian woman to lead a presidential ticket, thus breaking yet another barrier.

Pelosi expressed confidence in Harris’s chances. “She must win,” Pelosi emphasized during her interview with YSL News. “The future of our nation is at stake.”

What guidance does the former speaker have for Harris as she gears up for the challenging campaign against Republican Donald Trump?

“Just be yourself,” Pelosi advised. “That’s my counsel for everyone. Embrace your authentic self, your beliefs, and your vision for what you want to achieve. Show them you don’t need any outside advice; follow your own path.”

This approach is not just a recipe for winning elections, but a way to make history.