Chakrabarti's Chinese-Language Canvassers Blanket San Francisco's Sunset District

The Congressional candidate's ground game is modeling itself on a successful door-knocking operation and bringing in some of the same personnel.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:00pm by Ben Kaplan

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Saikat Chakrabarti, one of the leading candidates to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi, has assembled a team of 10 paid Cantonese-speaking canvassers to target Chinese-American voters in San Francisco's Sunset District. The canvassers, many of whom are USPS letter carriers, are following the playbook of Daniel Lurie's successful door-knocking campaign and are being guided by experienced field organizers Yan Liu and Albert Lam. The campaign is tailoring its messaging to appeal to Asian voters, emphasizing Chakrabarti's background and policy positions on issues like Medicare for All and corruption in Congress.

Why it matters

Courting Chinese-American voters is a key strategy for Chakrabarti, who is seeking to capitalize on dissatisfaction with Rep. Nancy Pelosi among the local Chinese community. The Sunset District, with its large Asian population, is a crucial battleground in the race, and Chakrabarti's ability to effectively mobilize these voters could be a deciding factor.

The details

Chakrabarti's team of 10 paid Cantonese canvassers have been dispatched in pairs to the Sunset District, where they practice conversations, distribute flyers, and ask voters directly if they plan to support Chakrabarti. The campaign's two Cantonese field organizers, Yan Liu and Albert Lam, track the canvassers' locations and provide guidance, including on how to respond to voters' questions that fall outside the prepared script. The campaign is also using the feedback from these interactions to update its messaging and tailor Chakrabarti's appeal to Asian voters.

  • The canvassing efforts took place on a recent Sunday during a heat wave in San Francisco.
  • The June 2 primary election is the key date for Chakrabarti's campaign.

The players

Saikat Chakrabarti

One of the three leading candidates to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress, who has assembled a team of Chinese-language canvassers to target voters in San Francisco's Sunset District.

Yan Liu

One of Chakrabarti's Cantonese field organizers, who was previously a canvasser on the campaigns of Daniel Lurie and Matt Haney.

Albert Lam

Chakrabarti's other Cantonese field organizer, who speaks Toishanese and is working to engage the local Chinese community.

Han Zou

A "door-knocking genius" who worked on the ground campaigns of both Daniel Lurie and Matt Haney, and who served as a mentor to Yan Liu.

Nathan Allbee

A longtime strategist and aide for Matt Haney, who is now consulting for Chakrabarti's campaign.

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What they’re saying

“Capitalism has run its course and a lot of the wealth has been removed from the middle class to the upper class. Chakrabarti is the candidate for my generation.”

— Albert Lam, Chakrabarti's Cantonese field organizer

What’s next

The Chakrabarti campaign is set to launch a new Chinese-language flier as it continues to refine its messaging and outreach to Asian voters ahead of the June 2 primary election.

The takeaway

Chakrabarti's targeted outreach to the Chinese-American community in San Francisco's Sunset District, led by experienced field organizers and modeled on successful past campaigns, highlights the importance of engaging diverse constituencies and tailoring campaign strategies to local demographics.