Outgoing ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has had a firm grip on one of the most liberal districts of the United States for decades.
But with Pelosi leaving Congress this year after announcing that she will not seek re-election, will Pelosi’s all-important San Francisco-area district anoint another liberal to take Pelosi’s place on Capitol Hill?
Not if Marie Hurabiell has anything say about it.
Hurabiell, a political activist and former chair of the Presidio Trust Board of Directors and former Republican appointee of President Donald Trump, announced she is running for Pelosi’s seat in Congress after registering as a Democrat in the crowded primary field of liberal progressives, The New York Post confirmed last week.
Hurabiell is promising a “common sense” approach to government.
“San Franciscans deserve a Congressperson who represents their values — not the extreme, progressive agenda that has failed our beautiful city,” said Hurabiell in a statement.
“I’ve done a lot to fight back against radicalism in San Francisco, promoting commonsense policies and leaders. Now, I’m ready to do the same in Washington.”
Prior to delving into politics, Hurabiell worked for years in the private sector as an attorney.
And ironically, she once interned for Pelosi, according to a press release.
Despite not being ultra-liberal, Hurabiell praised Pelosi as an “iconic” leader and said she hopes to carry on her legacy in Congress by focusing on affordability and Universal Basic Income as artificial intelligence threatens to upend the labor market, according to a statement by her campaign.
“Democrats must once again be the party of working people — focused on lowering costs, not expanding bureaucracy,” she said.
The moderate Democrat is also opposed to transgender women competing in women’s sports, saying she supports “maintaining the original intent of Title IX to ensure equal opportunity for women in education and athletics.”
Hurabiell co-founded ConnectedSF, a coalition of neighborhood groups focused on improving public safety and quality of life in San Francisco.
She credits herself with helping elect Mayor Daniel Lurie, the moderate Democrat and Levi Strauss heir who defeated former mayor London Breed in 2024.
Hurabiell was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2018 to serve on the Presidio Trust board, which oversees San Francisco’s expansive federal park in the northern part of the city.
However, she changed per party registration to Democrat in 2022, per multiple reports.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener, seen by many as the top candidate to replace Pelosi, blasted Hurabiell’s candidacy in a statement.
“Marie Hurabiell is a MAGA Republican Trump appointee who’s pretending to be a Democrat in an attempt to be taken seriously,” said Joe Arellano, Wiener’s spokesperson.
“We’ll add her to Scott’s MAGA Fan Club on our campaign website next to Laura Loomer and Kristi Noem.”