Former Trump Appointee Enters Race for Pelosi's San Francisco Congressional Seat
Marie Hurabiell, a political activist who identifies as a common sense Democrat and opposes transgender women competing in women's sports, has officially launched her campaign for the congressional seat currently held by Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco. Hurabiell, a former appointee of Donald Trump, announced her candidacy on Wednesday, positioning herself against what she calls "failed policies" and "ideological extremes."
A Campaign Built on Pragmatism and Reform
"Big news. Today I'm announcing my campaign for Congress to represent San Francisco," Hurabiell declared in a social media post. "I didn't plan to run for office this year, but San Francisco doesn't need more ideological extremes. We need results and reform."
She emphasized her intention to bring "pragmatic, common sense Democratic leadership to Washington" with a focus on safety, innovation, and affordability. Hurabiell, who only registered as a Democrat in 2022, stated, "I've stood up to failed policies before. I'll do it again."
Controversial Stances and Political Background
Hurabiell's campaign takes clear positions on several contentious issues. She strongly believes transgender women should not compete in women's sports, a stance that contrasts with many liberals including Pelosi. In a 2025 social media post, she explicitly stated, "Trans women are NOT women."
If elected, Hurabiell has pledged to support "maintaining the original intent of Title IX to ensure equal opportunity for women in education and athletics," according to her campaign materials.
Despite having once interned for Pelosi, who is scheduled to retire in January 2027, Hurabiell has distanced herself from the former House Speaker. She has even indirectly criticized Pelosi regarding allegations of congressional stock trading, posting a quote from Harry Truman about politicians getting rich alongside commentary questioning how career politicians accumulate substantial wealth.
A Crowded Field of Democratic Candidates
Hurabiell enters a competitive race against fellow Democrat Scott Wiener, a progressive politician who gained attention for his attire at the 2024 Folsom Street Fair. Other declared candidates include Supervisor Connie Chan and tech founder Saikat Chakrabarti.
Hurabiell told The San Francisco Standard that she decided to run after realizing "there was no other viable moderate getting into the race." She argued that "the three current candidates in the race are essentially fighting for the same group of voters, and the rest of San Franciscans feel left out."
Political History and Personal Life
Hurabiell's political background includes serving as a member of Trump's Presidio Trust board of directors during his first presidential term. She was appointed to the federal agency in 2018 as vice chair and finance and audit committee chair. The Presidio Trust manages and preserves the former military post in the Bay Area as a national park site.
She is the founder of the political advocacy group ConnectedSF and is engaged to Mainul Mondal, founder and CEO of Ellipsis Health.
Opposition Response and Campaign Dynamics
Wiener's spokesperson, Joe Arellano, immediately criticized Hurabiell's candidacy, calling her "a MAGA Republican Trump appointee who's pretending to be a Democrat in an attempt to be taken seriously." He added that they would add her to "Scott's MAGA Fan Club" on their campaign website.
Chakrabarti's campaign took a more measured approach, with spokesperson Tiffaney Bradley stating, "Marie is known as someone who speaks her mind and always keeps things interesting. And while our campaign will probably disagree on almost everything, what we have in common is that we know this city and this whole country needs change."
The race for Pelosi's seat promises to be a significant contest as San Francisco voters prepare to choose a new representative in what has become a multi-candidate Democratic primary with distinct ideological divisions.
