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After reflecting and discussing it with my husband and others on my team, I have decided to suspend my congressional campaign. With so many Democrats now running in the 32nd District, the top-two primary math doesn’t add up anymore. If all of the announced Democrats continue in the race, Congressman Sherman will face a Republican in the general election again, ensuring that he’ll remain in Congress in a safe Democratic district.&nbsp;I could stay in the race to continue making the case that we need a new generation of Democrats with bold ideas in Washington, but with the fight for Congress, our country and the Democratic Party entering new territory, I can’t justify using resources just to make a point. I wholeheartedly believe that our focus — in California, especially — should be on winning the election in November to secure the new Congressional districts drawn up in response to the abominable actions taken by the President and the Republican Party in Texas.I want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the voters and supporters I met across the 32nd District. Thank you to those who opened your homes to me and our campaign, the ones I met marching and protesting this Administration’s horrendous policies, and to all those from around the country who texted, or messaged, or even donated from a completely different state all because they believe that the future of our party is one worth fighting for.&nbsp;I also want to say a special thank you to my husband and biggest supporter, Abe, for his tireless support and guidance.&nbsp;Over the months on the trail I have seen the immediate impact our campaign has had on the 32nd District. It has made me more sure than ever that primaries are not only essential in a functioning democracy, but they are immensely beneficial. In the last five months, we have seen a 15-term incumbent Congressman host more town halls than he had in the last five years. We have seen him sign on to legislation he had never even commented on, and only after I publicly expressed my support for it. Primaries are not a waste of time or resources if they make incumbents have to actually do their job.&nbsp;Moving forward, I call on California Democrats, especially those in safe seats, like Congressman Sherman, to put in their fair share of resources to secure a win in November's special election. If members like Congressman Sherman, with over $4 million in his campaign account, a sum he would never come close to needing to defend his seat, don’t financially support the campaign with a seven-figure contribution, the California Democratic Party should call for their resignation. If Congressman Sherman isn’t willing to stand up for democracy, it could potentially spur me back into the campaign after November.I entered this race because Americans deserve better from our elected officials. We deserve choice and we deserve our leaders to be accountable and accessible. I will be forever proud of even the small impact we might have had in getting a Congressman to finally do his actual job, representing and serving the people and communities of California’s 32nd District, not just his own personal interests.&nbsp;This was not the result I was hoping for but I have been so excited to see so many other campaigns across the country like ours spring up and challenge the status quo at all levels of government. Those candidates and public servants are the future of our party, and I am honored to have run alongside them.With gratitude and hope for the future,Jake Rakov

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I'm running for Congress against my former boss, Rep. Brad Sherman, because we can’t keep sending the same people back and expecting a different result. Rep. Sherman has been in Washington for nearly 30 years and has become part of the problem. We need American innovation and new ideas if we're ever going to make Congress work for us.I have a three-part pledge to fix Congress: term limits (House members should serve no more than five terms), rejecting corporate PAC money (campaigns should be funded by people) and hosting monthly in-district town halls (Rep. Sherman hasn't done one in five years).I hope you'll join me in this campaign. You can <a href="https://www.supportcrypto.org/donate/jakerakov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">donate here</a>.

Why I'm Running

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"Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) is headed for a competitive primary election next year after his former congressional staffer Jake Rakov launched a primary challenge."- Washington Examiner, April 2, 2025

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"Rep. Brad Sherman’s views on cryptocurrencies set him apart from most of his colleagues in Congress. The Northridge-area Democrat isn’t just wary of crypto: He hates it and views it as a threat to the national security of the United States. Sherman, who chairs a House subcommittee on investor protection, may be the leading crypto skeptic on Capitol Hill."Read the full article <a href="https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-09-04/brad-sherman-leading-crypto-skeptic-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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We'd love to have your help in this campaign. My opponent has been in Washington for nearly 30 years and has raised millions of dollars from corporate PACs who want to keep him in DC, but we will win if we have grassroots support across the 32nd District.Whether you can knock doors, make phone calls, attend events, write letters, talk to your friends, anything, please sign-up to volunteer with us today.

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Rep. Brad Sherman Opposes American Innovation

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"Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) is headed for a competitive primary election next year after his former congressional staffer Jake Rakov launched a primary challenge." - Washington Examiner

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<h3>It's Time for a New Generation of Democrats</h3>

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IT'S TIME FOR A NEW GENERATION OF DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS

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MY PLEDGE

"Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) is headed for a competitive primary election next year after his former congressional staffer Jake Rakov launched a primary challenge"- Washington Examiner, April 2, 2025

The Choice for CA-32 is Clear

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Jake Rakov is running against his former boss, Rep. Brad Sherman, because we can’t keep sending the same people back and expecting a different result. Rep. Sherman has been in Washington for nearly 30 years and has become part of the problem. We need American innovation and new ideas if we're ever going to make Congress work for us.

I’m running for Congress in California's 32nd District because we need a new generation of Democrats to step up if we want to get anything done in Washington. We can’t keep sending the same people back and expecting a different result. I'm running against my former boss because the Democrats who have been in Washington for decades got us Trump twice, and the fight for our future is too important to accept the status quo.

<h2>Growing up my dad taught me that if there wasn’t a good choice available, then I had to work harder and fight to make one.</h2>After graduating from college, I moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and signed with a talent agency to pursue an acting career. Like so many others in the industry, I worked as a bartender in West Hollywood and as a cater waiter working events all over the county. It was through those connections that I got my start in LA politics, on the 2013 mayoral race. I got the chance to meet city leaders, small business owners, and community activists from every corner of the city. For nine months, I started nearly every day at 6am at a coffee shop near the corner of Ventura and Laurel Canyon.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/be3cc962-f7da-4c5f-9edf-76338defe609/64561c66-63a8-432f-aaaa-2334db1c166d/64561c66-63a8-432f-aaaa-2334db1c166d.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C548%2C6000%2C3952&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">After that campaign, I built relationships throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area through my work with numerous Democratic elected officials and progressive organizations. I’m also a former Steering Committee member of the Los Angeles Stonewall Democratic Club, one of the largest Democratic Clubs in California.Between stints in LA, I worked for Congressman Brad Sherman in Washington, D.C. I was in his office at the beginning of Trump’s first term, and unfortunately the Congressman is still using the same outdated approach that didn’t work back then. I’m running against my former boss because we need a new generation of Democrats in Washington if we want anything to change.My husband Abe and I got married in the 32nd Congressional District in 2023 and live in Studio City with our rescue dog Kip.

ABOUT

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No Corporate PAC Money

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<h3>MY 3-PART PLEDGE</h3><h4>The policies, strategies and tactics of the Democrats who have been in Washington for decades got us Trump twice.</h4>I’m running for Congress on a three-part pledge that any Democrat in the country could adopt today – and if they did, Democrats would get more progressive policies passed in Washington and win more elections across the country.

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<h2>MY 3-PART PLEDGE TO VOTERS</h2><h3>Rejecting corporate PAC money, monthly town halls and term limits</h3>Here’s how it works: I won’t take a dollar of corporate PAC money because Congress should put people first. I’ll hold an in-person town hall in the district once a month because you have to talk to your constituents face to face if you want to represent them. And I’ll push for a Constitutional amendment to enact term limits and will only serve five terms because after 10 years every House district should get a new voice in Washington. Every member of Congress could make the same pledge today, and if they did, Washington would work for the American people again tomorrow.

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My husband Abe and I got married in the 32nd Congressional District in 2023 and live in Studio City with our rescue dog Kip.

<h2>Growing up my dad taught me that if there wasn’t a good choice available, then I had to work harder and fight to make one.</h2><h3>I’ve spent my career in public service working to give our country and the Democratic Party better choices.</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/be3cc962-f7da-4c5f-9edf-76338defe609/ef12b0e5-fbdf-4636-852d-4c8f8b83e710/ef12b0e5-fbdf-4636-852d-4c8f8b83e710.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C6000%2C4500&amp;w=1500" alt="Jake talking to a family at the park." caption="" align="right" alignwidth="50" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">After graduating from college, I moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and signed with a talent agency to pursue an acting career. Like so many others in the industry, I worked as a bartender in West Hollywood and as a cater waiter working events all over the county. It was through those connections that I got my start in LA politics, on the 2013 mayoral race. I got the chance to meet city leaders, small business owners, and community activists from every corner of the city. For nine months, I started nearly every day at 6am at a coffee shop near the corner of Ventura and Laurel Canyon.After that campaign, I built relationships throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area through my work with numerous Democratic elected officials and progressive organizations. I’m also a former Steering Committee member of the Los Angeles Stonewall Democratic Club, one of the largest Democratic Clubs in California.Between stints in LA, I worked for Congressman Brad Sherman in Washington, D.C. I was in his office at the beginning of Trump’s first term, and unfortunately the Congressman is still using the same outdated approach that didn’t work back then. I’m running against my former boss because we need a new generation of Democrats in Washington if we want anything to change. You can read my campaign pledge <a href="/pledge" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

<h5>Current Job Openings:</h5><ul><li>Deputy Political Director</li><li>Communications and Digital Coordinator</li><li>Finance Director </li></ul><h5>Deputy Political Director</h5>Job Title: Deputy Political Director Location: Studio City, CA Salary: $4,500 – $5,500/month (commensurate with experience) Job Type: Full-TimePosition OverviewThe Deputy Political Director will be responsible for building and maintaining key relationships throughout the district, supporting high-level outreach, and driving key campaign programming. This position is ideal for someone with strong political instincts, organizing experience, and the ability to manage multiple relationships and projects with attention to detail and follow-through.Key Responsibilities<ul><li>Political Outreach &amp; Relationship Management<ul><li>Cultivate and manage relationships with activists, advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders across CA-32</li><li>Staff the Candidate and represent the campaign at political events, meetings, and community gatherings</li><li>Assist in building and maintaining a coalition of local influencers, surrogates, and validators</li></ul></li><li>Events &amp; Engagement<ul><li>Plan, recruit for, and execute political house parties and meet-and-greet events across the district</li><li>Ensure events are well-organized, attended by key stakeholders, and used strategically to build campaign support and visibility</li><li>Track attendees and follow up with new contacts for further engagement</li></ul></li><li>Call Time Management<ul><li>Oversee and staff call time, including prepping call sheets, managing follow-up, and ensuring strategic prioritization of calls</li><li>Track commitments using campaign software (e.g., NGP/VAN or similar tools)</li></ul></li><li>Fellows &amp; Political Volunteer Program<ul><li>Manage a political fellows program to engage students, young professionals, and emerging leaders in the campaign</li><li>Train and supervise fellows and political volunteers on outreach, event coordination, and basic organizing tasks</li><li>Create opportunities for fellows to grow professionally and deepen their political skills</li></ul></li><li>Data Tracking &amp; Reporting<ul><li>Maintain accurate tracking systems for outreach, relationships, and political progress</li><li>Work with the Campaign Manager to develop weekly and monthly progress reports</li><li>Ensure compliance with campaign policy and legal guidelines regarding political communications and endorsements</li></ul></li></ul>Job Requirements<ul><li>3+ years of experience in political campaigns or community engagement, including at least one political cycle working full-time on a campaign</li><li>Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders</li><li>Detail-oriented with strong organizational and follow-through skills</li><li>Ability to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends</li><li>Access to reliable transportation and willingness to travel throughout the district</li></ul>Preferred:<ul><li>Knowledge of California’s political landscape, particularly in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County</li><li>Experience managing call time, political outreach, and/or coalition work</li><li>Spanish or other language proficiency is a plus</li><li>Familiarity with tools like NGP, Google Workspace, and voter contact databases</li></ul>Compensation &amp; Logistics<ul><li>Salary: $4,500–$5,500/month depending on experience, plus benefits</li><li>Location: In-person role based in Studio City, CA</li><li>Start Date: Preferably by August 1, 2025</li></ul>To Apply: Please send your resume and a brief cover letter (in the body of the email) to <a href="mailto:hello@jakeforcongress.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hello@jakeforcongress.com</a> with the subject line: “Deputy Political Director – [Your Name]”<h5>Communications and Digital Coordinator</h5>Job Title: Communications and Digital Coordinator Location: Studio City, CA Salary: $4,000/month Job Type: Full-TimePosition OverviewThe Communications and Digital Coordinator will be responsible for social media planning and execution, content creation, design, and supporting press outreach. This is an ideal opportunity for a creative self-starter who is passionate about politics, understands how to build community online, and thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Key Responsibilities<ul><li>Social Media Strategy &amp; Execution<ul><li>Assist in developing and maintaining a robust social media content calendar</li><li>Draft and schedule daily content across platforms (Instagram, Twitter/X, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, etc.)</li><li>Staff and create content at events and campaign activities</li><li>Monitor social media trends, comments, and performance metrics to help inform strategy and engagement</li></ul></li><li>Content Creation &amp; Graphic Design<ul><li>Design and produce visual content including graphics, carousels, gifs, videos, and infographics</li><li>Edit short videos for social media, including subtitling, transitions, and resizing for different platforms</li><li>Support website updates and email graphics as needed</li></ul></li><li>Message Amplification<ul><li>Write compelling, clear, and concise copy and captions aligned with the campaign’s message</li><li>Assist in drafting emails, supporter updates, and website/blog posts</li><li>Support rapid response communications</li></ul></li><li>Press Outreach<ul><li>Help draft and proofread press releases, advisories, and statements</li><li>Maintain media contact lists and track press coverage</li><li>Assist in coordinating media interviews, press availabilities, and public appearances</li><li>Compile briefing documents, background materials, and talking points for the Candidate and surrogates</li><li>Monitor local and national news to flag coverage opportunities and inform campaign strategy </li></ul></li><li>Digital Organizing Support<ul><li>Assist in mobilizing volunteers and supporters through digital content and calls to action</li><li>Engage with local influencers, organizations, and validators online to help amplify campaign content</li></ul></li></ul>Job Requirements<ul><li>Relevant experience in digital communications, political campaigns, or content creation</li><li>Proficiency with social media platforms and digital trends</li><li>Strong writing and visual storytelling skills</li><li>Experience with graphic design and video editing tools</li><li>Excellent organizational and time management skills</li><li>Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends</li></ul>Preferred:<ul><li>Experience on a political campaign or advocacy organization&nbsp;</li><li>Familiarity with the Los Angeles County/California political landscape&nbsp;</li><li>Photography or video production experience</li></ul>Compensation &amp; Logistics <ul><li>Salary: $4,000/month, plus benefits</li><li>Location: In-person role based in Studio City, CA</li><li>Start Date: Preferably by August 1, 2025 </li></ul>To Apply: Please send your resume and a brief cover letter (in the body of the email) to <a href="mailto:hello@jakeforcongress.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hello@jakeforcongress.com</a> with the subject line: “Communications and Digital Coordinator – [Your Name]”<h5>Finance Director</h5>Job Title: Finance Director Location: Studio City, CA Salary: $6,000 – $7,500/month (commensurate with experience) Job Type: Full-TimePosition OverviewThe Finance Director will lead fundraising operations and strategy for the campaign, working closely with the Candidate and Campaign Manager to meet ambitious goals. This role requires strong communication, organization, and strategic planning skills, as well as experience with political campaign fundraising. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to build and maintain donor relationships, coordinate events, manage call time, and track contributions using digital tools and databases.Key Responsibilities<ul><li>Fundraising Strategy &amp; Donor Development<ul><li>Develop and execute a comprehensive finance plan to meet fundraising goals</li><li>Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective donors through research, networking, and outreach</li><li>Cultivate relationships with high-dollar and small-dollar donors</li><li>Track and analyze fundraising performance</li></ul></li><li>Call Time Management<ul><li>Staff and manage call time with the candidate, including prepping call sheets, tracking pledges, and following up with donors</li><li>Ensure strategic prioritization of donor outreach and pledge fulfillment</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Events &amp; Fundraisers<ul><li>Plan and execute in-person and virtual fundraising events, including house parties and donor briefings</li><li>Coordinate logistics, guest lists, and materials for each event</li><li>Collaborate with hosts and surrogates to maximize impact</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Compliance &amp; Data Management<ul><li>Maintain accurate contribution records in compliance with FEC regulations</li><li>Work closely with the compliance team to ensure timely reporting and data integrity</li><li>Utilize NGP for tracking, list management, and reporting</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Digital Fundraising &amp; Grassroots Engagement<ul><li>Coordinate with digital team to support online fundraising efforts, including email, social media, and SMS</li><li>Develop compelling fundraising messages for grassroots donors</li><li>Track small-dollar trends and optimize digital fundraising strategy</li></ul></li></ul>Job Requirements<ul><li>4+ years of experience in political fundraising, including at least two political cycles working full-time on a campaign</li><li>Comfort working with high-level donors and political stakeholders</li><li>Strong organizational and follow-through skills with attention to detail</li><li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills</li><li>Experience managing call time, donor events, and fundraising databases</li><li>Proficiency in NGP or other fundraising software</li><li>Ability to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends</li><li>Access to reliable transportation and willingness to travel throughout the district</li></ul>Compensation &amp; Logistics<ul><li>Salary: $6,000–$7,500/month depending on experience, plus benefits</li><li>Location: In-person role based in Studio City, CA</li><li>Start Date: Preferably by August 15, 2025</li></ul>To Apply: Please send your resume and a brief cover letter (in the body of the email) to <a href="mailto:hello@jakeforcongress.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hello@jakeforcongress.com</a> with the subject line: “Finance Director – [Your Name]”

<h2>Privacy Policy </h2>Last Updated: Mar 28, 2025 This Privacy Policy explains how Jake for Congress (“ENTITY,” “we,” or “us”) collects, uses, and discloses information about you when you access or use our websites, mobile sites, and mobile applications that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Site”). We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time.&nbsp; If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of the policy, and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our website homepage or sending you a notification).&nbsp; We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy whenever you access the Site or otherwise interact with us to stay informed about our information practices and the choices available to you. <h5>COLLECTION OF INFORMATION </h5>Information You Provide to UsWe collect information you provide directly to us.&nbsp; For example, we collect information when you sign up to receive updates, request information, fill out a form, sign a petition, sign up as a volunteer, sign up for an event, create an account, participate in a contest or promotion, make a donation or purchase, communicate with us via third party social media sites, request support, send us an email, or otherwise communicate with us. The types of information we may collect includes your name, contact information (such as email address, postal address, and phone number), credit card and other payment information (which may be collected directly by a third-party processor), and any other information you choose to provide.&nbsp;In addition, federal or state law may require us to collect certain personal information from donors.&nbsp; For example, federal law requires us to collect (and disclose) the name, mailing address, occupation, employer, and principal place of business of all individuals whose donations to ENTITY exceed $200 per election cycle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Automatically Collected InformationWhen you access or use our Site, we may automatically collect information about you, including:<ul><li>Log and Usage Information:&nbsp; We collect information related to your access to and use of the Site, including the type of browser you use, app version, access times, pages viewed, your IP address, and the page you visited before navigating to our Site.</li><li>Device Information:&nbsp; We collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access our Site, including the hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.</li><li>Transactional Information:&nbsp; If you make a donation or purchase, we may collect information about the transaction, such as donation amount, purchase price, product details, and date and location of the transaction.</li><li>Location Information:&nbsp; We may derive the approximate location of your device, such as from your IP address.&nbsp;</li><li>Information Collected by Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies:&nbsp; We (and our service providers) use different technologies to collect information, including cookies and web beacons.&nbsp; Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive or in your device’s memory that help us improve our Site and your experience, see which areas and features of our Site are popular, and count visits.&nbsp; Web beacons (also known as “pixel tags” or “clear GIFs”) are electronic images that may be used in our Site or emails to help deliver cookies, count visits, and to help us understand usage and campaign effectiveness.&nbsp; For more information about cookies and how to disable them, see Your Choices below.</li></ul>Information We Collect from Other SourcesWe and our service providers may also obtain information about you from other sources and combine that with information we collect about you on our Site.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h5>USE OF INFORMATION</h5>We may use the information we collect to:<ul><li>Provide, maintain, support, and improve our Site;</li><li>Provide and deliver the information you request, process donations and transactions, and send you related information, including confirmations and receipts;&nbsp;</li><li>Respond to your emails, comments, questions, and requests and otherwise contact you about your participation with ENTITY and the use of the Site;</li><li>Communicate with you about ENTITY, such as sending you information to keep you informed about various issues, events, activities, and volunteer opportunities, and provide news and information we think will be of interest to you (see Your Choices below for information about how to opt out of these communications at any time);</li><li>To solicit volunteers, donations, and support for ENTITY and for other candidates, issues, and organizations that we support and to connect you with other volunteers;</li><li>Contact you if state or federal election laws require us to request additional information from you;</li><li>Remind you to vote and register to vote and assist you in finding your registration information, polling location, and ENTITY events near you;</li><li>Monitor and analyze trends, usage, and activities in connection with our Site;</li><li>Personalize the Site and provide advertisements, content, or features based on your preferences, interests, and browsing and online activities;</li><li>Facilitate contests, sweepstakes, and promotions and process and deliver entries and rewards;&nbsp;</li><li>Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities and protect the rights and property of ENTITY and others; 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Meet Jake

In Los Angeles, 37-year-old Jake Rakov announced last week that he is running for the seat of his former boss, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California), 70. His launch video states that “this isn’t mom and dad’s America anymore” and that it’s time for a leader who can fight effectively in “Donald Trump’s MAGA hellscape.”...Rakov, who worked for Sherman in Washington in 2017, said he began thinking more deeply about how aging members of Congress were holding back the Democratic Party as he watched Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D- California) refuse to step aside despite widely acknowledged evidence of cognitive decline. (She died at 90 while in office.)Watching Sherman on television in January, Rakov felt as though he was seeing the congressman use some of the same talking points that he had after Trump’s first victory in 2016.“We’re just regurgitating the same things that he and other people like him have been doing for decades, and all that’s gotten us is Trump twice,” Rakov said in an interview. “So what are we doing here? Nothing is going to change if we keep sending the same Democrats back to D.C.”Read the full article <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/06/young-democrats-age-leadership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Watching Sherman on television in January, Rakov felt as though he was seeing the congressman use some of the same talking points that he had after Trump’s first victory in 2016.“We’re just regurgitating the same things that he and other people like him have been doing for decades, and all that’s gotten us is Trump twice,” Rakov said in an interview. “So what are we doing here? Nothing is going to change if we keep sending the same Democrats back to D.C.”

Younger Democrats Want to Force an Uncomfortable Conversation

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Jake Rakov, a former staffer for Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), is seeking to unseat his former boss. Rakov criticized Sherman’s leadership and said the congressman had become disconnected from his constituents. He also noted that Sherman hadn’t hosted a town hall in the last five years. Rakov, 37, said Democrats need a new wave of energy. The candidate has touted his age as an advantage against the 70-year-old representative. Rakov contends that younger Democrats in Congress would offer a fresh legislative perspective.Read the full article <a href="https://punchbowl.news/archive/42625-the-readback/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Jake Rakov, a former staffer for Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), is seeking to unseat his former boss. Rakov criticized Sherman’s leadership and said the congressman had become disconnected from his constituents. He also noted that Sherman hadn’t hosted a town hall in the last five years. Rakov, 37, said Democrats need a new wave of energy.

Young Democrats taking on the old guard

We’ve spent a lot of time recently talking about the aging leadership in Washington. Today, we’re looking forward with not one but two compelling voices representing a new generation of leadership.First, we'll hear from Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow, whose powerful speeches defending inclusive policies have resonated nationwide. Then, we'll sit down with rising star Jake Rakov to explore his vision for progressive governance in practice.Listen to the podcast <a href="https://substack.com/@pantsuitpolitics/p-163945352" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Today, we’re looking forward with not one but two compelling voices representing a new generation of leadership. First, we'll hear from Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow, whose powerful speeches defending inclusive policies have resonated nationwide. Then, we'll sit down with rising star Jake Rakov to explore his vision for progressive governance in practice.

Where Do Democrats Go From Here?

During his few months as a staffer in Sherman’s office, Rakov said he came to view his boss as someone out of touch with the voters back home, too comfortable with the status quo in Washington. “My experience with working on the Hill for him, [I saw] how stuff actually gets done, and who’s there, and how to really work with other offices. He hasn’t been able to do that,” Rakov said. ...“Looking after Trump won again and seeing [Sherman] use the exact same talking points that I helped draft for him back in 2017 during Trump’s first term, and still have the same mentality about how to communicate on social media and how to advocate, he was still doing the same outdated things,” Rakov said. “This is a guy who is such a shining example of the systematic problems with our party.”“If you give a 30-minute floor speech on Friday afternoon to an empty chamber, and you call that ‘standing up and fighting,’ you are way more out of touch than I even thought,” Rakov added.Read the full article <a href="https://rollcall.com/2025/04/29/former-hill-staffers-take-on-democratic-incumbents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

“Looking after Trump won again and seeing [Sherman] use the exact same talking points that I helped draft for him back in 2017 during Trump’s first term, and still have the same mentality about how to communicate on social media and how to advocate, he was still doing the same outdated things,” Rakov said. “This is a guy who is such a shining example of the systematic problems with our party.”

Former Hill staffers take on incumbents

"The combined force of these two dynamics—Trump’s rising unpopularity and the fecklessness of the Democrats—creates the opportunity for a third force in American politics: a grassroots movement that can take over and reshape the Democratic Party..."You can find the full article <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/save-democratic-party-takeover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

“The combined force of these two dynamics—Trump’s rising unpopularity and the fecklessness of the Democrats—creates the opportunity for a third force in American politics: a grassroots movement that can take over and reshape the Democratic Party…”

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How to Save the Democratic Party From Itself

Jake Rakov, 37, is a primary challenger taking on his former boss -- Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat who represents California's 32nd District."I'm running because we do need a new generation of Democrats to step up if we want anything to change in Washington; we cannot keep sending the same both decade after decade, and expecting things to change," Rakov told ABC News in an interview.Rakov worked for Sherman as a deputy communications director in 2017 and since then worked in Los Angeles politics and some campaigns.But he slammed Sherman as ineffective, adding, "He likes to brag about seniority. He has been passed over for leadership positions on his committees ... Seniority doesn't matter if no one is willing to work with you."Read the full article <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/young-democratic-primary-challengers-seek-oust-longtime-house/story?id=121096400" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Rakov worked for Sherman as a deputy communications director in 2017 and since then worked in Los Angeles politics and some campaigns.But he slammed Sherman as ineffective, adding, "He likes to brag about seniority. He has been passed over for leadership positions on his committees ... Seniority doesn't matter if no one is willing to work with you."

Young Democratic primary challengers seek to oust longtime House members

Jake Rakov, a former aide to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), on Wednesday announced he is launching a primary challenge against his onetime boss.In a video announcing his campaign, Rakov directly criticized Sherman, who is serving his 15th term in the House, as out of touch with his constituents who want him to take a stronger stand against the Trump administration.“If you want to know why we as Democrats are so bad at fighting back against Trump, look at guys like my former boss,” he said. “Brad Sherman has been in Washington for nearly 30 years, he sold his home in LA and bought a $2 million house in D.C. that he now calls home, and he doesn’t make it back to LA much.”“Congressman Sherman hasn’t held a town hall here in the district in five years. He even bragged about giving speeches to an empty House chamber while his constituents have to fend for themselves after their home is burnt down,” Rakov continued. “If you love Washington that much, there’s no way you’ll be a part of changing it.”Rakov said he was running for Congress to advocate for term limits for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. He said he wouldn’t accept corporate PAC money and would hold monthly town halls with constituents if elected.Rakov served as Sherman’s deputy communications director in 2017.Read the full <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5228400-jake-rakov-primary-brad-sherman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">article</a>.

Jake Rakov, a former aide to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), on Wednesday announced he is launching a primary challenge against his onetime boss.In a video announcing his campaign, Rakov directly criticized Sherman, who is serving his 15th term in the House, as out of touch with his constituents who want him to take a stronger stand against the Trump administration.

Jake Rakov is launching a primary challenge

"Democrats spent billions of dollars warning American voters that Donald Trump posed an imminent threat to democracy, that his economic policies would benefit only his wealthy friends, that he was literally a fascist.In the end, voters didn’t care — or if they did, it didn’t matter.And now, after Kamala Harris’ decisive loss, Democrats enter a second Trump presidency with no clear leader, no clear plan and no agreement on what caused them to be so wrong about the 2024 election."You can find the full article <a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-trump-harris-election-future-5bf8bd0ca6683119a846abd446544407" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

“Democrats spent billions of dollars warning American voters that Donald Trump posed an imminent threat to democracy, that his economic policies would benefit only his wealthy friends, that he was literally a fascist.&nbsp; In the end, voters didn’t care — or if they did, it didn’t matter.&nbsp; And now, after Kamala Harris’ decisive loss, Democrats enter a second Trump presidency with no clear leader, no clear plan and no agreement on what caused them to be so wrong about the 2024 election.”

Democrats enter a Trump presidency without a plan or a clear leader

STUDIO CITY, Ca. – Jake Rakov today announced that he is running for Congress in California’s 32nd District. Rakov, who previously worked for incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman, is centering his campaign around Democrats needing new leadership in Washington and a three-point pledge to voters.“I’m running for Congress because we need a new generation of Democrats to step up if we want to get anything done in Washington. We can’t keep sending the same people back and expecting a different result,” Rakov said. “I'm going up against my former boss because the Democrats who have been in Washington for decades got us Trump twice, and the fight for our future is too important to sit back and watch them continue to fail us.”&nbsp;Rakov, a former steering committee member of Los Angeles’s Stonewall Democratic Club, worked for Rep. Sherman in his Washington office in 2017 and got his start in politics in LA and the Valley in 2013. He is centering is campaigning on a three-point pledge:&nbsp;<ul><li>Term Limits: He’ll push for a Constitutional amendment to enact term limits and will only serve five terms (10 years).<ul><li>Rep. Sherman will have served 30 years by the end of this term.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>No Corporate PAC Money: He won’t accept any corporate PAC contributions to his campaign.<ul><li>Rep. Sherman has taken nearly $2 million in corporate contributions.</li></ul></li><li>In-District Town Halls: He’ll host an in-person town hall in the district every month that he’s in Congress.<ul><li>Rep. Sherman hasn’t hosted an in-person town hall in the district since 2019.&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul>“Every member of Congress could take this same pledge today and Washington would be so much better tomorrow,” Rakov said. “My pledge shouldn’t be revolutionary, but unfortunately Congress has gotten so broken and members like Rep. Sherman have been there so long that they either don’t even see how much of a problem the system they created has become or they did it on purpose to give themselves a lifetime of job security without having to listen to their constituents." You can read more about Rakov’s pledge at <a href="http://jakeforcongress.com/pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">jakeforcongress.com/pledge</a> and learn more about why he’s running by watching his launch video <a href="https://youtu.be/3RIgBmUSTs8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.Jake Rakov lives in Studio City with his husband Abe Rakov and their rescue dog Kip. Jake and Abe were married in the 32nd District in 2023.

STUDIO CITY, Ca. – Jake Rakov today announced that he is running for Congress in California’s 32nd District. Rakov, who previously worked for incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman, is centering his campaign around Democrats needing new leadership in Washington and a three-point pledge to voters.

Jake Rakov Announces Run for Congress

Many of those candidates are making cases for generational change.“It is about needing new energy in Congress to actually meet the moment where we are,” said 37-year-old Jake Rakov, who is challenging his former boss, 15-term Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of California. “We just need people who are more active communicators, who can move the party into the 21st century and don’t operate like it’s 1996.”Read the full article <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/01/politics/democrats-incumbents-challenge-party-divide" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Many of those candidates are making cases for generational change.“It is about needing new energy in Congress to actually meet the moment where we are,” said 37-year-old Jake Rakov, who is challenging his former boss, 15-term Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of California. “We just need people who are more active communicators, who can move the party into the 21st century and don’t operate like it’s 1996.”

Young Democrats challenge longtime incumbents as party grapples with generational divide

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) is headed for a competitive primary election next year after his former congressional staffer Jake Rakov launched a primary challenge on Wednesday. “I’m running for Congress against my former boss who’s been in office for nearly 30 years,” Rakov, 37, said on social media. “It’s time for a new generation of Democrats to step up. We can’t keep sending the same people to DC and expecting things to change.”Read the full article <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/3367603/former-brad-sherman-staffer-jake-rakov-launches-primary-bid-congress-california/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) is headed for a competitive primary election next year after his former congressional staffer Jake Rakov launched a primary challenge on Wednesday.“I’m running for Congress against my former boss who’s been in office for nearly 30 years,” Rakov,&nbsp;37, said on social media. “It’s time for a new generation of Democrats to step up. We can’t keep sending the same people to DC and expecting things to change.”

‘A new generation of Democrats’

Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/09/gaza-militant-group-congress-eyes-sanctions" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Brad Sherman</a> (D-Calif.) is the latest House Democrat facing a younger primary insurgent — in this case, his 37-year-old former aide.Why it matters: The challenge to Sherman, 70, comes as Democrats are <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/25/house-democrats-jeffries-pelosi-primary-challenge" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">bracing for a deluge of primary fights</a> driven by grassroots anger towards the party establishment. ...Driving the news: Jake Rakov, a onetime deputy communications director for Sherman, launched his candidacy Wednesday morning with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RIgBmUSTs8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">video</a> in which he ripped his ex-boss. His candidacy was first reported by Politico.<ul><li>"If you want to know why we as Democrats are so bad at fighting back against Trump, look at guys like my former boss," Rakov said.</li><li>Citing Sherman's nearly 30-year tenure in Congress, Rakov said he is running on a 10-year congressional term limit — as well as pledges that he will hold town halls in the district and won't take corporate PAC money.</li></ul>Zoom out: Rakov's challenge comes as the liberal grassroots are in virtually open rebellion against their party's leadership.<ul><li>Tensions within the party erupted last month after some Senate Democrats voted to pass Republicans' government funding bill rather than use it as leverage.</li><li>Democrats across the country have faced <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/21/democrats-house-senate-tea-party-trump" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">heated town hall audiences</a> and low approval ratings among members of their own party.</li></ul>Read the full article <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/02/brad-sherman-rakov-democrat-primary-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Jake Rakov, a onetime deputy communications director for Sherman, launched his candidacy Wednesday morning with a video in which he ripped his ex-boss. His candidacy was first reported by Politico. "If you want to know why we as Democrats are so bad at fighting back against Trump, look at guys like my former boss," Rakov said.

Another older House Democrat gets a primary challenger

A former deputy communications director to 70-year-old Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday that he’s seeking to dethrone his former boss. “If you want to know why we as Democrats are so bad at fighting back against Trump, look at guys like my former boss,” 37-year-old Jake Rakov, who worked for Sherman in 2017, said in a two-minute campaign announcement video.Using the Southern California wildfires as a metaphor throughout his video, Rakov claimed that President Donald Trump’s administration is “burning our government to the ground.” He also insisted that it’s time to fight fire with fire.Rakov made three promises in his campaign video: to seek 10-year term limits for Congress, to not accept corporate PAC money and to host monthly in-person town halls for California constituents.He also directly slammed Sherman, a 15-term congressman who has held office since 1997, for his handling of the wildfires, for being out of touch with constituents, for staying in office for so long and for selling his Los Angeles home to live in Washington, D.C.Read the full <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-longtime-house-democrat-is-getting-challenged-by-his-former-aide_n_67ed82cbe4b0b937ab8f5c97?ncid=NEWSSTAND0001" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">article</a>.

Rakov made three promises in his campaign video: to seek 10-year term limits for Congress, to not accept corporate PAC money and to host monthly in-person town halls for California constituents.

A Longtime House Democrat Is Getting Challenged

“After Trump’s win, Democrats did a great deal of hand-wringing about what went wrong, but they don’t seem to have learned much. Their inability to find their footing was on painful display during last night’s non–State of the Union address. Not only could Democrats not figure out an effective response to Trump’s speech; they couldn’t even settle on one or two ineffective responses.”You can find the full article <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/03/the-democrats-disjointed-rebellion/681932/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

“After Trump’s win, Democrats did a great deal of hand-wringing about what went wrong, but they don’t seem to have learned much. Their inability to find their footing was on painful display during last night’s non–State of the Union address. Not only could Democrats not figure out an effective response to Trump’s speech; they couldn’t even settle on one or two ineffective responses.”

The Democrats’ ‘No We Can’t’ Strategy

Sherman on Wednesday became the latest House Democrat to find himself facing a primary challenge, from his 37-year-old former aide Jake Rakov, Politico reported.Sherman, 70, represents parts of Los Angeles County, including some of the areas ravaged by wildfires earlier this year.

List of House Democrats Facing Primary Challenges

Jake Rakov, a former staffer to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), is launching a bid Wednesday to oust his one-time boss. Rakov, 37, is part of a string of Democrats waging intra-party battles against a long-time House incumbents by calling for a generational change in leadership.Standing in front of a Los Angeles structure decimated by wildfire, Rakov used <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RIgBmUSTs8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a 2.5-minute long launch video</a> to blast Sherman, 70, as out of touch with his constituents and unwilling to mount a meaningful resistance against President Donald Trump’s “MAGA hellscape.”“He and people like him, who have stayed on for so long, who don’t even check into the district anymore,” Rakov said in an interview with POLITICO, “are why we have Trump twice, and why our party is so bad at fighting back against him now.”Read the full story <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/02/former-aide-challenges-brad-sherman-00265558" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Jake Rakov, a former staffer to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), is launching a bid Wednesday to oust his one-time boss. Rakov, 37, is part of a string of Democrats waging intra-party battles against a long-time House incumbents by calling for a generational change in leadership. ... Rakov served as Sherman’s deputy communications director in 2017. He is active in the LGBTQ+ community in the district and sat on the steering committee for Los Angeles’ Stonewall Democratic Club.

Jake Rakov is running against his ex-boss

"Voters still have a sour view of Democrats six weeks after President Donald Trump and Republicans swept into Washington with control of all branches of the federal government, according to a new poll. A plurality of voters — 40 percent — said the Democratic Party doesn’t have any strategy whatsoever for responding to Trump, according to the survey by the liberal firm Blueprint that was shared first with POLITICO. Another 24 percent said Democrats have a game plan, but it’s a bad one."You can find the full article <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/06/poll-democrats-trump-disarray-00215291" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

“Voters still have a sour view of Democrats six weeks after President Donald Trump and Republicans swept into Washington with control of all branches of the federal government, according to a new poll.&nbsp; A plurality of voters — 40 percent — said the Democratic Party doesn’t have any strategy whatsoever for responding to Trump, according to the survey by the liberal firm Blueprint that was shared first with POLITICO. Another 24 percent said Democrats have a game plan, but it’s a bad one.”

Insider poll: The Democratic Party has ‘lost its way’

STUDIO CITY, Ca. – Jake Rakov today announced that he is running for Congress in California’s 32nd District. Rakov, who previously worked for incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman, is centering his campaign around Democrats needing new leadership in Washington and a three-point pledge to voters.“I’m running for Congress because we need a new generation of Democrats to step up if we want to get anything done in Washington. We can’t keep sending the same people back and expecting a different result,” Rakov said. “I'm going up against my former boss because the Democrats who have been in Washington for decades got us Trump twice, and the fight for our future is too important to sit back and watch them continue to fail us.”Rakov, a former steering committee member of Los Angeles’s Stonewall Democratic Club, worked for Rep. Sherman in his Washington office in 2017 and got his start in politics in LA and the Valley in 2013. He is centering is campaigning on a three-point pledge: <ol><li>Term Limits: He’ll push for a Constitutional amendment to enact term limits and will serve no more than five terms (10 years).<ol><li>Rep. Sherman will have served 30 years by the end of this term.&nbsp;</li></ol></li><li>No Corporate PAC Money: He won’t accept any corporate PAC contributions to his campaign.&nbsp;<ol><li>Rep. Sherman has taken nearly $2 million in corporate contributions.</li></ol></li><li>In-District Town Halls: He’ll host an in-person town hall in the district every month that he’s in Congress.&nbsp;<ol><li>Rep. Sherman <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/10uXsnVPpABu7HcKOLMMLeDWSScGS1H3d/view?pli=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">hasn’t hosted an in-person town hall</a> in the district since 2019. </li></ol></li></ol>“Every member of Congress could take this same pledge today and Washington would be so much better tomorrow,” Rakov said. “My pledge shouldn’t be revolutionary, but unfortunately Congress has gotten so broken and members like Rep. Sherman have been there so long that they either don’t even see how much of a problem the system they created has become or they did it on purpose to give themselves a lifetime of job security without having to listen to their constituents."You can read more about Rakov’s pledge at <a href="http://jakeforcongress.com/pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">jakeforcongress.com/pledge</a> and learn more about why he’s running by watching his launch video <a href="https://youtu.be/3RIgBmUSTs8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.Jake Rakov lives in Studio City with his husband Abe Rakov and their rescue dog Kip. Jake and Abe were married in the 32nd District in 2023.

Jake Rakov Announces He's Running for Congress

<span class="image video image-center" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LuthQ48MLXg?si=dPAuc76c9JITNFrc&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>" style="width: 80%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/be3cc962-f7da-4c5f-9edf-76338defe609/8c0abd26-89d9-4fb2-a322-7aa9ee83e62c/8c0abd26-89d9-4fb2-a322-7aa9ee83e62c.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1206%2C671&amp;w=1500" embedcode="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LuthQ48MLXg?si=dPAuc76c9JITNFrc&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" src="https://run.imgix.net/be3cc962-f7da-4c5f-9edf-76338defe609/8c0abd26-89d9-4fb2-a322-7aa9ee83e62c/8c0abd26-89d9-4fb2-a322-7aa9ee83e62c.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1206%2C671&amp;w=1500" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LuthQ48MLXg?si=dPAuc76c9JITNFrc&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LuthQ48MLXg?si=dPAuc76c9JITNFrc&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>">This week, 37-year-old Jake Rakov launched a primary challenge to 15-term California Congressman Brad Sherman (D). The challenge, made even more interesting given that Rakov once served as Deputy Communications Director for Sherman. Fresh off his campaign launch, Rakov joins Cher Calvin and Micah Ohlman to discuss his campaign, his priorities, and the changing of the Democratic guard in the face of the Trump presidency. Watch the interview <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuthQ48MLXg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

This week, 37-year-old Jake Rakov launched a primary challenge to 15-term California Congressman Brad Sherman (D). The challenge, made even more interesting given that Rakov once served as Deputy Communications Director for Sherman. Fresh off his campaign launch, Rakov joins Cher Calvin and Micah Ohlman to discuss his campaign, his priorities, and the changing of the Democratic guard in the face of the Trump presidency.

Jake Rakov launches primary challenge

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I want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the voters and supporters I met across the 32nd District. Thank you to those who opened your homes to me and our campaign, the ones I met marching and protesting this Administration’s horrendous policies, and to all those from around the country who texted, or messaged, or even donated from a completely different state all because they believe that the future of our party is one worth fighting for.&nbsp;

Jake's Message to Supporters

With the fight for Congress, our country and the Democratic Party entering new territory, I have decided to suspend my Congressional campaign.I want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the voters and supporters I met across the 32nd District. Thank you to those who opened your homes to me and our campaign, the ones I met marching and protesting this Administration’s horrendous policies, and to all those from around the country who texted, or messaged, or even donated from a completely different state all because they believe that the future of our party is one worth fighting for.&nbsp;

My Message to Supporters

As Democratic voters say their party needs to change and young voters grow more skeptical of traditional party politics, a crop of candidates in their 20s and 30s is stepping in to challenge older Democrats for their seats in Congress.The primary challengers stepping up against veteran Democrats in recent months are emphasizing young-voter issues and railing against the ways they feel the Democratic Party has failed — from how it’s pushed back on President Donald Trump’s early actions to addressing the rising cost of living....Rakov, who was a staffer for Sherman in 2017, said after Trump took office in January, he saw Sherman making TV appearances using similar messaging and “doing the exact same thing” as he did in Trump’s first term. He said that’s when he knew he had to run.“I was like, ‘This is exactly what’s wrong with the Democratic Party,’” Rakov said. “If we keep going down this road, it’s gotten us Trump twice. I don’t want to think about what it’s going to get us next time if we don’t change route.”Rakov said Democrats are currently “flat-footed” in their approach to voters and are failing to match the energy and anger from their base as constituents are negatively impacted by the Trump administration. He said he thinks Democrats have gotten “stuck in their talking points” instead of having candid conversations with constituents about the issues affecting them, and he charged Sherman with being absent from his district in recent months.Rakov said his challenge to Sherman isn’t based on ideological or even generational differences.“There’s nothing about an age,” Rakov said. “This isn’t a generational argument, but this is about needing to actually get new energy and new voices into Congress on a regular basis. Congress was never meant to be a career.”Read the full article <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/young-voters-indignation-older-leaders-spurs-democratic-primary-challe-rcna200620" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Rakov, who was a staffer for Sherman in 2017, said after Trump took office in January, he saw Sherman making TV appearances using similar messaging and “doing the exact same thing” as he did in Trump’s first term. He said that’s when he knew he had to run.“I was like, ‘This is exactly what’s wrong with the Democratic Party,’” Rakov said. “If we keep going down this road, it’s gotten us Trump twice. I don’t want to think about what it’s going to get us next time if we don’t change route.”

Democratic voters say their party needs to change

Jake Rakov wants to represent District 32 in the US Congress, with includes the Pacific Palisades. He is challenging 15-term incumbent Brad Sherman.Watch the full segment on Fox 11 Los Angeles <a href="https://www.foxla.com/video/1621202" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Jake Rakov wants to represent District 32 in the US Congress, with includes the Pacific Palisades. He is challenging 15-term incumbent Brad Sherman.

Jake Rakov launches congressional campaign

STUDIO CITY, Ca. – Jake Rakov today announced that he is running for Congress in California’s 32nd District. Rakov, who previously worked for incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman, is centering his campaign around Democrats needing new leadership in Washington and a three-point pledge to voters.“I’m running for Congress because we need a new generation of Democrats to step up if we want to get anything done in Washington. We can’t keep sending the same people back and expecting a different result,” Rakov said. “I'm going up against my former boss because the Democrats who have been in Washington for decades got us Trump twice, and the fight for our future is too important to sit back and watch them continue to fail us.”&nbsp;Rakov, a former steering committee member of Los Angeles’s Stonewall Democratic Club, worked for Rep. Sherman in his Washington office in 2017 and got his start in politics in LA and the Valley in 2013. He is centering is campaigning on a three-point pledge:&nbsp;<ol><li>Term Limits: He’ll push for a Constitutional amendment to enact term limits and will only serve five terms (10 years). <ul><li>Rep. Sherman will have served 30 years by the end of this term.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>No Corporate PAC Money: He won’t accept any corporate PAC contributions to his campaign.&nbsp;<ul><li>Rep. Sherman has taken nearly $2 million in corporate contributions.</li></ul></li><li>In-District Town Halls: He’ll host an in-person town hall in the district every month that he’s in Congress.&nbsp;<ul><li>Rep. Sherman hasn’t hosted an in-person town hall in the district since 2019.&nbsp; </li></ul></li></ol>“Every member of Congress could take this same pledge today and Washington would be so much better tomorrow,” Rakov said. “My pledge shouldn’t be revolutionary, but unfortunately Congress has gotten so broken and members like Rep. Sherman have been there so long that they either don’t even see how much of a problem the system they created has become or they did it on purpose to give themselves a lifetime of job security without having to listen to their constituents."You can read more about Rakov’s pledge at <a href="http://jakeforcongress.com/pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">jakeforcongress.com/pledge</a> and learn more about why he’s running by watching his launch video <a href="https://youtu.be/3RIgBmUSTs8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.Jake Rakov lives in Studio City with his husband Abe Rakov and their rescue dog Kip. Jake and Abe were married in the 32nd District in 2023.

STUDIO CITY, Ca. – Jake Rakov today announced that he is running for Congress in California’s 32nd District. Rakov, who previously worked for incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman, is centering his campaign around Democrats needing new leadership in Washington and a three-point pledge to voters.

Many members of Congress don't face competitive primaries, but that's not stopping some going after longtime incumbents in safe blue districts. Here's NPR's Elena Moore.ELENA MOORE, BYLINE: Around the country, a growing group of Democrats in their 20s and 30s are launching campaigns for Congress, and their announcements have a shared theme.(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)GEORGE HORNEDO: These do-nothing Democrats? It's time for leadership that puts the people first.(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)JAKE RAKOV: Democrats in Washington need backbone, courage, innovation and, yes, some fire in their belly.MOORE: Their goal - unseating Democratic incumbents in the House of Representatives and replacing them with new voices. California's Jake Rakov is one of those candidates. The 37-year-old political strategist is running to represent the state's 32nd Congressional District, part of Los Angeles County. He's challenging 14-term incumbent Brad Sherman, who Rakov worked for in 2017.RAKOV: It's not an age thing. I think it's become an age thing just because the people who have been there for so long are now in their 60s, 70s and 80s. I would love to go back and ask him at 40, do you think you'll still be doing this at 70? And I'd love to hear that answer 'cause I - honestly, I don't think he would say yes.Listen to the full story or read the transcript <a href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5339833" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Their goal - unseating Democratic incumbents in the House of Representatives and replacing them with new voices. California's Jake Rakov is one of those candidates. The 37-year-old political strategist is running to represent the state's 32nd Congressional District, part of Los Angeles County. He's challenging 14-term incumbent Brad Sherman, who Rakov worked for in 2017.

The next AOC? Young Democrats are aiming to topple incumbents inside their own party

The intergenerational infighting amongst Democrats has come to Los Angeles County.Jake Rakov, a former staffer to Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, will run against his ex-boss for California’s 32nd Congressional District seat when the current officeholder is up for reelection next year.The 37-year-old candidate says it’s time for long-serving members of Congress to step aside and allow a new generation of Democrats to lead.Sherman, 70, will have served for 30 years by the time his current term ends next year. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 — shortly before Rakov’s ninth birthday....“Unfortunately, Congress has gotten so broken, and members like Rep. Sherman have been there so long that they either don’t even see how much of a problem the system they created has become or they did it on purpose to give themselves a lifetime of job security without having to listen to their constituents,” he said.Read the full article <a href="https://www.dailynews.com/2025/04/04/election-2026-jake-rakov-challenges-ex-boss-rep-brad-sherman-for-house-seat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

The intergenerational infighting amongst Democrats has come to Los Angeles County.Jake Rakov, a former staffer to Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, will run against his ex-boss for California’s 32nd Congressional District seat when the current officeholder is up for reelection next year.

Jake Rakov challenges ex-boss

“Too many on our team just don’t have the fight we need right now,” said Jake Rakov, a 37-year-old former congressional staffer who is mounting a primary challenge to his onetime boss, 70-year-old Rep. Brad Sherman (D., Calif.). ... Age is a bigger headache for Democrats than Republicans for one central reason: Democrats have a lot more old members. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have similar median ages. But of the 20 oldest House members elected in 2024, 16 were Democrats. In the Senate, where tensions over age are more subdued, nearly all the oldest senators—11 of the 14 who were older than 75 at the start of this Congress—were Democrats.Read the full article <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/house-democrats-are-having-a-public-fight-about-their-oldest-lawmakers-d99519c1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

“Too many on our team just don’t have the fight we need right now,” said Jake Rakov, a 37-year-old former congressional staffer who is mounting a primary challenge to his onetime boss, 70-year-old Rep. Brad Sherman (D., Calif.).

House Democrats Are Having a Public Fight About Their Oldest Lawmakers

Young Democratic candidates are launching primary bids for national office in hopes of charting a new path forward for a party in disarray. We hear from three of those candidates, Mallory McMorrow, Jake Rakov and Kat Abughazaleh, about what they think the Democratic Party needs to do to win.Watch the full segment or read the transcript <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-young-democratic-candidates-are-pushing-to-redefine-the-partys-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

The Democratic Party is still figuring out how to meet this moment. And we spoke to three Democrats, all launching first-time bids for national office in 2026 about what they think their party needs to do to win."And so I'm running against him to bring a new generation to Congress to actually show those people who left our party that we are still a party of progress and still a party that's going to work for them."

How young Democratic candidates are pushing to redefine the party’s future

Alex Wagner: That voice was Jake Rakov in his first ad launching his campaign for Congress. Rakov is running to represent California’s 32nd District in the House of Representatives, a seat that is currently occupied by 15-term incumbent Democrat Brad Sherman, whom Jake Rakov used to work for as a deputy communications secretary back in 2017. I talked to Rakov to discuss why he felt the need to challenge his former boss and what Democrats, in general, are doing wrong.Alex Wagner: So, you got, like, a missile of a campaign launch video. And let me just first start, like, why run against your former boss?&nbsp;Listen to the podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-move-dems/id1638974657?i=1000704787886" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Read the transcript <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-podcast/trumpland/trumpland-move-dems-rcna203065" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Rakov is running to represent California’s 32nd District in the House of Representatives, a seat that is currently occupied by 15-term incumbent Democrat Brad Sherman, whom Jake Rakov used to work for as a deputy communications secretary back in 2017. I talked to Rakov to discuss why he felt the need to challenge his former boss and what Democrats, in general, are doing wrong.

Your Move, Dems

Rep. Sherman kept nearly $4 million in his campaign account in 2024 rather than giving it to Democratic candidates that needed itFrom <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/01/politics/democrats-incumbents-challenge-party-divide" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNN</a> today: “Sherman, as well as other critics of the primary efforts, argue that Democrats could jeopardize their chances of retaking the House if they have to direct resources toward defending party members, and that incumbents in safe seats would have to spend money on themselves that could go toward flipping GOP-held seats.” The Facts:&nbsp; <ul><li>In his 2024 year end <a href="https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00308742/1869480/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report</a>, Brad Sherman had $3,921,944.70 cash on hand.</li><li>CA-32 is a <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/cook-pvi/2025-partisan-voting-index/district-map-and-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safe Democratic district</a> and Rep. Sherman’s past two GOP opponents raised just <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/CA/32/2024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$140,107.71</a> and <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/CA/32/2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$53,589.76</a> for their entire campaigns.&nbsp;</li></ul>“Instead of doing everything possible to stop Donald Trump from becoming president and helping Democrats win the House, Brad Sherman selfishly sat on nearly $4 million last year. He doesn’t represent a competitive district, but he kept the money to try and make sure someone like me would be too intimidated to run against him this cycle,” said Jake Rakov, a former staffer of Rep. Sherman who is now running against him. “Rep. Sherman says Democratic primaries are taking resources away from winning back the House, but he’s Exhibit A for why we lost: Too many long-serving Democrats in Washington care more about keeping their jobs than anything else. He deserves to be fired.” To learn more about Jake’s campaign visit <a href="http://www.JakeForCongress.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.JakeForCongress.com</a>.&nbsp;

“Instead of doing everything possible to stop Donald Trump from becoming president and helping Democrats win the House, Brad Sherman selfishly sat on nearly $4 million last year. He doesn’t represent a competitive district, but he kept the money to try and make sure someone like me would be too intimidated to run against him this cycle,” said Jake Rakov, a former staffer of Rep. Sherman who is now running against him.

Brad Sherman, Not Primaries, Is the Problem for Democrats

"As Democrats face the reality of President Trump’s second term, they share a fundamental belief: This moment calls for an inspirational message from their party. They just cannot decide what, exactly, that should be. In private meetings and at public events, elected Democrats appear leaderless, rudderless and divided. They disagree over how often and how stridently to oppose Mr. Trump. They have no shared understanding of why they lost the election, never mind how they can win in the future."You can find the full article <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/us/politics/democrats-trump.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

“More than 50 interviews with Democratic leaders revealed a party struggling to decide what it believes in, what issues to prioritize and how to confront an aggressive right-wing administration.”

‘We Have No Coherent Message’: Democrats Struggle to Oppose Trump

"The Democratic Party has reached an all-time low in popularity in the latest national NBC News poll, as it searches for a path forward after a painful loss to President Donald Trump — and as the party’s voters spoil for a fight between their leaders in Washington and Trump. Just over a quarter of registered voters (27%) say they have positive views of the party, which is the party’s lowest positive rating in NBC News polling dating back to 1990. Just 7% say those views are “very” positive. 'With these numbers, the Democratic Party is not in need of a rebrand. It needs to be rebooted,' said Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who conducted the survey along with GOP pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies."

"The Democratic Party has reached an all-time low in popularity in the latest national NBC News poll, as it searches for a path forward after a painful loss to President Donald Trump — and as the party’s voters spoil for a fight between their leaders in Washington and Trump."

Democratic Party hits new polling low, while its voters want to fight Trump harder

“We’re both progressive Democrats, and I’m sure we’ll find daylight on a few things here and there,” Rakov said, “but I think this is much more about being a better member of Congress and actually doing what needs to be done in this moment in time.”He acknowledged the recent launches by Abughazaleh and Chakrabarti. Asked about comparisons some have made of Democratic Party challenges to the tea party movement of 2010, Rakov said: “That’d be great. It’d be cool if we could have that big national moment from a political science perspective.”But, he joked, that Fox News would likely dub it the “Latte Party” — an apparent reference to the party’s traction with college-educated voters. Read the full article <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/09/democrats-age-primary-campaigns-032542" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

“We’re both progressive Democrats, and I’m sure we’ll find daylight on a few things here and there,” Rakov said, “but I think this is much more about being a better member of Congress and actually doing what needs to be done in this moment in time.”

My Message to Supporters

How young Democratic candidates are pushing to redefine the party’s future

Your Move, Dems

Where Do Democrats Go From Here?

Young Democratic primary challengers seek to oust longtime House members

Jake Rakov is running against his ex-boss

‘A new generation of Democrats’

The next AOC? Young Democrats are aiming to topple incumbents inside their own party

Brad Sherman, Not Primaries, Is the Problem for Democrats

Young Democrats challenge longtime incumbents as party grapples with generational divide

House Democrats Are Having a Public Fight About Their Oldest Lawmakers

Former Hill staffers take on incumbents

Young Democrats taking on the old guard

Democratic voters say their party needs to change

Younger Democrats Want to Force an Uncomfortable Conversation

Jake Rakov challenges ex-boss

Jake Rakov launches congressional campaign

Jake Rakov launches primary challenge

Another older House Democrat gets a primary challenger

Jake Rakov is launching a primary challenge

A Longtime House Democrat Is Getting Challenged

New wave of Democratic primary challengers

List of House Democrats Facing Primary Challenges

Jake Rakov Announces Run for Congress

Insider poll: The Democratic Party has ‘lost its way’

How to Save the Democratic Party From Itself

‘We Have No Coherent Message’: Democrats Struggle to Oppose Trump

Democrats enter a Trump presidency without a plan or a clear leader

The Democrats’ ‘No We Can’t’ Strategy

Jake Rakov Announces He's Running for Congress

Democratic Party hits new polling low, while its voters want to fight Trump harder

Jake Rakov Announces Run for Congress

Jake's Message to Supporters

Campaign Media