After moving to San Francisco , Pelosi became friends with 5th District Congressman Phillip Burton , and began working her way up in Democratic politics . In 1976 , she was elected as a Democratic National Committee member from California , a position she would hold until 1996 . She was elected as party chair for Northern California in January 1977 , and four years later was selected to head the California Democratic Party , which she led until 1983 . Subsequently , Pelosi served as the San Francisco Democratic National Convention Host Committee chairwoman in 1984 , and then as Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee finance chair from 1985 to 1986
Democratic National Convention
1984 Democratic National Convention
Nancy Pelosi