How Pelosi’s hard work clinched party support

Nancy Pelosi’s campaign to reclaim her old job as House speaker began two years ago, just days after Donald Trump’s stunning presidential win.

It began with Pelosi’s own rallying cry to health care advocates, labor unions, veterans and others in the Democratic base to help save the Affordable Care Act.

Even before Trump was sworn in, Pelosi — along with singer Joan Baez and several area politicians — joined in a “Protect Our Health Care” rally on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, as simultaneous events were held in 40 other cities across the country.

Saving health care then became the mantra

for Pelosi’s drive over the next two years to reclaim the House and speakership.

It culminated in a candidate recruitment drive and fundraising effort that eventually amassed $25.9 million for Democrats in the midterm elections.

“The narrative arc in all the events and fundraising were related to keeping us focused on that (health care) message,” said Pelosi’s daughter and party activist, Christine Pelosi.

As it became increasingly likely that the Democrats would retake the House, Pelosi — rather than spending directly on her own reelection — put her resources into setting up shop with local party officials at the old Pottery Barn on Market Street, which they used for get-out-the-vote efforts and headquarters to launch the “Nancy for Speaker” campaign. Then came the PR blitz.

Pelosi popped up everywhere, from latenight TV to the cover of the New York Times Magazine, and there were daily press drops by key supporters and fellow members of Congress voicing support for Pelosi as speaker.

Meanwhile, inside the Capitol, she used her leadership position to offer deals to her newly elected colleagues for key committee assignments, legislative rule changes and other demands.

It all paid off for Pelosi last week when Democrats voted 203 to 32 in a closed-door caucus to renominate her, setting the stage for a final vote in the new House in January.

In the end, there was no one ready to run against Pelosi — and her opponents had little choice but to either go along with her election or join with Republicans to pick someone else as speaker.

“What kind of first impression would that have made to their voters back at home,” asked East Bay Democratic Rep. Mark DeSaulnier. “Her detractors were playing checkers, while she was playing three-

level chess.”

Parading around: San Francisco Mayor London Breed spent her first Thanksgiving in office — not carving turkeys at St. Anthony Dining Room, but in New York at the Macy’s Parade, sitting in the VIP section that was visible to anyone watching NBC’s coverage.

Sources tell us the mayor was on hand with the family of Building Inspection Commissioner John Konstin, owner of John’s Grill. Both Konstin and his daughter were celebrating their birthdays.

Breed, who has rarely had a breather since she was thrust into the mayoral spotlight a year ago upon the abrupt death of Mayor Ed Lee, was fulfilling a childhood dream of attending the parade.

Her New York trip, which included some shopping, was quite a break from the long tradition of San Francisco mayors spending the holiday carving turkey and dishing out food to the homeless at St. Anthony’s and Glide Memorial Church.

Breed’s spokesman, Jeff Cretan, tells us she did her official duty before she left, popping up earlier in the week to hand out turkeys at San Francisco public housing projects, including a visit with Warriors All-Star Kevin Durant.

We’re told the mayor paid her own airfare and hotel. As for the police security team that accompanied her, SFPD spokesman David Stevenson declined to provide details, saying “doing so could compromise the safety of the officials and the security detail.” Sonoma retreat: Elected officials who serve on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission rolled into the five-star Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn resort Wednesday for an overnight retreat to talk about affordable housing and how best to spend transportation tax and toll money in the coming year.

Cost: $29,000.

In all, about 16 MTC members — including Los Altos City Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins, Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly, Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza, Redwood City Councilwoman Alicia Aguirre and BART Director Nick Josefowitz — made the trip.

Pedroza, Haggerty and Aguirre only came up for the day.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf was there as well, but paid with her own credit card — so did Orinda City Councilwoman Amy Worth. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo also attended the retreat, but he stayed in another hotel.

The MTC typically hosts the gathering in the home base of the commission chair — in this case, Rohnert Park City Councilman Jake Mackenzie.

According to the resort website, the hotel offers guests “exceptional spa services, a Michelinrated restaurant, access to championship golf at neighboring Sonoma Golf Club, and numerous complimentary fitness and wellness offerings.”

“They worked until 5 p.m. and started working again at 8 a.m. the next morning,” MTC spokesman Randy Rentschler said. “We didn’t pay for any spa services, and I suspect the funnest thing anyone did was to go for a walk in the rain.”

End of the line: And finally, a personal note from Andrew Ross, the back half of Matier & Ross:

“With a mix of emotions and after 43 years in the news business, covering just about every type of story imaginable, I’ve decided to retire this month. The good news is Phil Matier — my always-on-the-move column partner of 28 years — isn’t going anywhere and plans to continue writing an insightful news and political gossip column twice a week in The Chronicle.

“Together, we’ve had a great front-row ride on some of the biggest news stories in the Bay Area and California, and I will miss our partnership and the many editors, colleagues and news sources who have supported us over the years. I will also miss answering your many calls, letters and emails — even the complaints.

“But then life goes on — and so does the news.”

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email matierandross@ sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross