Dear John,

Less than six months ago, we won more votes to replace Nancy Pelosi as San Francisco’s voice in Congress than any previous challenger in her 30-year career.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Times explored the future of San Francisco’s voice after Nancy’s eventual retirement. It identified Nancy’s daughter, Christine Pelosi, as her most likely successor.

When a powerful Member of Congress wants to effectively bequeath their seat to a family member, what does that mean for democracy?

That might seem like the kind of succession we would expect in a banana republic, rather than a democracy that claims to lead the free world. Unfortunately, it’s precisely the pattern underlying Nancy Pelosi’s history.

Pelosi went to Congress because, as a prolific Democratic Party fundraiser, she was recruited by Phil & Sala Burton, who preceded her as San Francisco’s voices in Congress until they each passed away in 1983 and 1987, respectively.

As an immigrant, family dynasties remind me of the countries from which my parents immigrated, more than the proud democracy to which they came in 1976.

Want to support democracy in the face of nepotism and dynastic politics?

As a lifelong activist and organizer, my path to running for office didn’t involve being born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

My path has been pervaded by struggle, and by speaking truth to power.

In the early 2000s, I organized demonstrations across the Bay Area to challenge Bush’s wars.

When I moved to Washington after graduating from law school, I organized lawsuits in New York State that played a key role in helping establish the right of LGBTQ couples to marry, while debating Bush’s war on the poor, the environment, and the rest of the world on national network television news.

While Obama was in office, I organized non-profit coalitions in Washington—and also at the local level in cities across the country—to challenge the bipartisan war on civil liberties. My work as a non-profit policy advocate helped make San Francisco the first city in the country to ban the municipal use of face surveillance technology.

When Trump came to power, we launched what became the strongest campaign in 30 years to liberate San Francisco’s voice in Congress.

Want to help us finish the job, and defend democracy in America from being eroded by family dynasties?

Since—unlike Nancy & Christine Pelosi—our efforts are not backed by a corporate political party, we need your help to stop Pelosi from effectively giving her seat in Congress to her daughter.

Inherited office has no place in a democracy.

It’s even worse: Nancy Pelosi is among the wealthiest Members of Congress.

Allowing her seat to pass to her daughter would not only undermine democracy, but also further entrench rule by the wealthy—instead of government for, of, and by the People.

Many career politicians in San Francisco want Pelosi’s seat in Congress. But not even one of them is willing to challenge the Pelosi power machine, or the Washington establishment.

Can you stand with us to win San Francisco a voice in Congress aligned with our city’s visionary values?

Universal healthcare, climate justice, and civil rights are all objects of sustained national debate. But Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and alternatives to predatory policing—in cities across the U.S., and also at our equally militarized borders—are not going to establish themselves.

I’m eager to continue fighting for your rights, and to defend the future from the predation of our corporate past. But only with your help can we overcome the establishment network openly working to subvert our democracy.

Can we count on your support today?

In solidarity,

Shahid

P.S. -- Every contribution before 9pm PT on Wednesday, March 31 will be included in our next public disclosure to the Federal Election Commission.