{"id":47427,"date":"2026-03-30T11:11:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=47427"},"modified":"2026-03-30T11:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:12:20","slug":"wieners-wealthy-backers-counter-chakrabartis-big-spending-in-sf-congressional-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/30\/wieners-wealthy-backers-counter-chakrabartis-big-spending-in-sf-congressional-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Wiener\u2019s wealthy backers counter Chakrabarti\u2019s big spending in SF congressional race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An attack mailer marks the first major move from a super PAC, an outside spending group that can raise unlimited donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The feud between state Sen. Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti has picked up steam. | Source:Amanda Andrade-Rhoades\/The San Francisco Standard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Han Li<\/a> Politics Reporter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published Mar. 25, 2026 \u2022 SFStandard.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Francisco is no stranger to wealthy players in politics, and the race to replace one of Congress\u2019 richest members(opens in new tab)<\/a> \u2014 Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi \u2014 has become the latest battleground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many city voters may have received a postcard-style mailer featuring Saikat Chakrabarti, a former tech engineer and centimillionaire who is largely self-funding his campaign. The mailer includes images of crabs, scenic waterfront views, and landmarks in Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSaikat Chakrabarti sends greetings from Maryland,\u201d the mailer reads. \u201cSaikat is an out-of-town millionaire trying to buy our seat in Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Saikat
A super PAC-funded mailer attacks Chakrabarti. | Source:Courtesy photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The piece marks the first major attack from a super PAC involved in the race. The spending group, Abundant Future, was formed in late 2025 and had raised about $235,000 by year\u2019s end(opens in new tab)<\/a>, largely from wealthy tech leaders. The mailer, which cites reporting<\/a> from The Standard revealing that Chakrabarti once misidentified a home he bought in Maryland as his primary residence, marks an escalation in the money war against the progressive candidate, who has bought a wave of TV ads<\/a> that cost his campaign in the high six-figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite Chakrabarti\u2019s tech ties as an early employee of Stripe, Abundant Future\u2019s donors hail largely from Silicon Valley. Among them are crypto billionaire Chris Larsen, Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, Yelp cofounder Jeremy Stoppelman, and socialite Dede Wilsey, all of whom have donated to state Sen. Scott Wiener\u2019s congressional campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten candidates are running to succeed Pelosi. The top two candidates in the June primary will advance to the November election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent filings show Abundant Future spent about $65,000(opens in new tab)<\/a> on direct mail, printing, and postage to attack Chakrabarti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m super supportive of Scott, the hardest-working legislator I know!\u201d Larsen, the PAC\u2019s top donor, at $100,000, told The Standard in an email. \u201cAnd on Chakrabarti \u2014 never trust a multimillionaire socialist!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tan, who recently formed a high-profile political alliance(opens in new tab)<\/a> with Wiener, contributed $25,000 to the PAC last year. Wiener announced tech-related legislation last week at the San Francisco headquarters of Y Combinator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A message from The Standard:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep tabs on SF\u2019s movers and shakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Get the inside scoop on City Hall and local politics in our weekly Power Play newsletter.Sign up now<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam Singer, a spokesperson for Tan, said the venture capitalist strongly supports Wiener and believes he knows how to build coalitions and get things done. \u201cUnlike his opponents, Scott has real grassroots support, so expect even more people to rally behind him,\u201d Singer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wiener\u2019s campaign, which by law can not involve itself in the activities of a super PAC, declined to comment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chakrabarti\u2019s campaign pushed back on the mailer, accusing Wiener of being backed by supporters of President Donald Trump, as Larsen\u2019s company was a major donor(opens in new tab)<\/a> to the president\u2019s inauguration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re attacking Saikat because he helped his parents buy a house in Maryland. That tells you everything you need to know,\u201d said Tiffaney Bradley, a spokesperson for the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feud between Wiener and Chakrabarti has grown increasingly contentious<\/a> in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Wiener flamed Chakrabarti on social media(opens in new tab)<\/a> for misrepresenting his residence and deleting 13 years of posts. Soon after, Chakrabarti released a video(opens in new tab)<\/a> criticizing Wiener for avoiding debates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other contenders for Pelosi\u2019s seat are entering the fray. Marie Hurabiell, a more conservative candidate, has joined Chakrabarti in attacking Wiener, calling him a radical and suggesting that the state senator sees Chakrabarti as a threat whom he cannot defeat on policy grounds. Supervisor Connie Chan, a progressive candidate who\u2019s been largely absent from the back-and-forth, released a video(opens in new tab)<\/a> mocking the feud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow I have to get back to work,\u201d Chan says in the video. \u201cI\u2019ve got a budget committee to chair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More about the author:<\/p>\n\n\n\n