Moderate Congressional candidate Hurabiell receives support from Chinese American voters

SAN FRANCISCO — Among the 11 candidates running for the District 11 House Representative seat to represent San Francisco in the June 2 primary election, attorney Marie Hurabiell's popularity is quickly catching up to the top three candidates. She is also one of the candidates considered very favorable by Chinese American voters.

San Francisco-born Hurabiell agreed and said, "The Chinese American community is a vital part of San Francisco's identity, economy, and future, and I've been honored to stand alongside Chinese American leaders and families on the issues that matter most to them."

"Whether it was fighting anti-Asian hate, defending merit at Lowell, restoring algebra in 8th grade, or supporting public safety reforms like Prop. 36, I've shown up, not just at election time, but year after year," said Hurabiell. "When it was unpopular to do so, but I did it because it was the right thing to do and a reflection of my values. I'm grateful for the trust this community has placed in me, and I'll continue to earn it every day."

District 11 Congressional seat, which represents San Francisco in the House, is the hottest race in the City's upcoming June 2 election. Top two candidates in the primary will enter a runoff in November. The final top winner will succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in January 2027. This seat has been open for competition for the first time in 39 years since Pelosi was first elected in 1987.

A total of 11 candidates are running for the House Representative seat. Three top candidates in the race based on poll numbers are California State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, and Saikat Chakrabarti who is a tech entrepreneur and Former Chief of Staff to New York Congresswoman Alexandria ocasio-cortez (AOC). All three top candidates announced their candidacies for the seat in 2025.

Hurabiell filed her papers on March 6, the last day to enter the race before the deadline. "I decided to run at the last minute because I saw three progressives in the race and no moderate voice," Hurabiell told the Wind Newspaper.

"No one else in this field has been on the front lines of the fights that have defined San Francisco's recovery: the DA (District Attorney) recall, the Board of Education recalls, restoring algebra in 8th grade, defending merit-based admissions at Lowell, passing Prop. 36 to end rampant retail theft, and standing up against anti-Asian hate," Hurabiell continued. "I've spent the last six years in those fights. We need someone in office who will actually fight for what's right."

Hurabiell was born and raised in San Francisco. She only lived outside San Francisco for college at Georgetown University, law school at the University of Pennsylvania, and a federal clerkship in Los Angeles as a young attorney.

"My family has been here for many generations," Hurabiell said. "This city is in my blood. I believe it's the best city in the world."

Hurabiell had served at Pelosi's Congressional Office as an intern, worked at the Skadden law firm, and held senior executive roles in media and technology companies. She left the private sector in 2020 to launch ConnectedSF, a citywide organization focused on pragmatic solutions for city issues.

Hurabiell, who also has become more active in politics since 2020, is a former Republican. She switched to register as a Democrat in 2022.

"Party switches are not unusual," Hurabiell explained regarding her political party affiliation. "Hillary Clinton was once a Republican, and Donald Trump was once a Democrat. What matters is what you fight for."

Although Hurabiell entered this race later than three top candidates, her campaign funds and popularity quickly caught up to Supervisor Chan, who announced her run for Congress on November 20, 2025.

According to the latest quarterly financial filings as of April 15, 2026 (covering data up to March 31, 2026), Chakrabarti's campaign had the most funds at $5.18 million with the majority being self-funded. Wiener followed him with $3.52 million mostly from large donors. Chan had $458,767 in campaign funds mostly from small donors. Hurabiell had $421,737.

Hurabiell invested $100,000 into her own campaign. 59.4% of the $321,737 contributions came from supporters in the City. Hurabiell said it reflected the strong local support for her campaign from San Francisco voters.

Since announcing the run on March 6, Hurabiell has averaged raising over $84,000 per week and earned more support from local, smaller donors than other candidates in the race.

Hurabiell received the top endorsement for the seat from the Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC). "Marie [Hurabiell] is a pragmatic leader who brings a common-sense approach to making government more accountable and efficient. She stood with CADC during critical moments, including the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin and opposing Proposition K," CADC wrote in the endorsement list.

"Having interned in Nancy Pelosi’s congressional office and later serving as a federally appointed trustee, she understands how to navigate government and deliver results," CADC stated. "As the organizer of the 30,000-member ConnectedSF and an early supporter of [Mayor] Daniel Lurie, she has championed clean streets and safer neighborhoods. Marie prioritizes affordability by tackling rising energy costs and government waste, while advancing AI security and exploring Universal Basic Income. We believe she will be an effective voice for our community.”

As a voter, CADC President Josephine Zhao endorsed Hurabiell. "Marie stood by us, offering her support precisely when the Chinese community needed it most. She has consistently been a vocal advocate for the values of the Asian business community, particularly regarding public safety and education," said Zhao.

"In this era of artificial intelligence (AI), she will represent San Francisco on the national stage—championing legislation in public education and technology to enhance the next generation's competitiveness while simultaneously protecting and improving welfare benefits for our senior population," Zhao added.

Amy Zhu is a community activist who supports Hurabiell because of her results-oriented style of leadership.

"Marie is a native San Franciscan who understands both the city’s past greatness and the real challenges residents have faced in recent years, including public safety, the rising cost of living, and problems with city governance," said Zhu.

"She not only has ideals but also real experience getting things done. She founded ConnectedSF and has been actively involved in pushing San Francisco toward a more common-sense approach to government, including supporting the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin, advocating for education reform, and opposing the closure of the Great Highway," Zhu added.

Zhu has known Hurabiell for years. She said Hurabiell is unlike many traditional politicians, she does not focus mainly on ideology. "She pays attention to the everyday issues that ordinary residents truly care about: safer streets, affordability, government efficiency, and jobs in the age of AI."

Regarding the Upper Great Highway closure, Hurabiell supported reopening the Great Highway to cars during the week. "I was an active member of the No on K campaign, and I wrote an op-ed at the time explaining how the Prop. K campaign was built on misleading claims. Now that San Franciscans have lived with the reality of the closure and seen how much harder it has made life for working families," said Hurabiell.

"I believe most residents support reverting to weekday access. Weekend park use is a fair compromise; a full daily closure is not," Hurabiell added.

The controversial California Billionaire Tax measure might appear on the statewide ballot in November 2026. The San Francisco CEO Tax (Prop. D) will be decided by local voters in the upcoming June election. Both measures will impose extra taxes on high earners.

Hurabiell opposed both measures. "I do not support either. Both are ill-conceived ideas that are already harming our economy and driving employers and investment out of California."