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Shahid Buttar is an English-born American civil liberties attorney, activist, and political candidate, currently running against incumbent Nancy Pelosi for the 12th congressional district in the 2020 U.S. House of Representatives elections in California. Buttar is a Democratic Socialist.

Early life and education
Born in London to Pakistani immigrants on July 22, 1974, Buttar and his family immigrated to the United States when he was a child. Buttar was raised in Rosebud, Missouri until he was 10 and later moved Chicago, Illinois. Buttar earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the Loyola University Chicago.

In 2000, Buttar moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend Stanford Law School. He graduated in 2003.

While at Stanford, Buttar served as Executive Editor of the Stanford Environmental Law Journal. Buttar also led a campaign to support sustainable architecture on campus and led a student protest against the Iraq War.

Career and activism
After law school, Buttar began working at Heller Ehrman LLP. His work at the firm included lawsuits promoting same-sex marriage and campaign finance reform. Buttar went on to work at the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy.

From 2009 to 2015, Buttar was Executive Director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

In 2015, Buttar joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Political career
The Intercept described Buttar as Nancy Pelosi's "first genuine left-wing challenge in 30 years."

During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States, Buttar moved his election campaign online.

Political positions

 * Buttar supports the Green New Deal, a transition to renewable energy, and forceful action to address the climate crisis.
 * Buttar supports Medicare for All and a single-payer health care system.
 * Buttar supports expanding access to health care for the homeless, aiding homeless veterans, and creating affordable housing grants.
 * Buttar supports ending mass surveillance and intends to "sponsor legislation to require law enforcement and intelligence agencies (such as [the] NSA, FBI, and DEA) to secure a judicial warrant before searching or collecting information from or about Americans."
 * Buttar supports intersectional feminism and reproductive rights.
 * Buttar supports reducing military spending and anti-corruption efforts.
 * Buttar supports raising the minimum wage, labor unions, and prohibiting right-to-work laws.
 * Buttar supports ending the militarization of the Mexico–United States border and supports protecting Dreamers.
 * Buttar supports campaign finance reform and making Election Day a national holiday.
 * Buttar supports an “Internet Bill of Rights,” whistleblower protection, privacy laws, and ending mass surveillance under the Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
 * Buttar supports ending the war on drugs and has developed a platform for criminal justice reform and advancing civil rights.
 * Buttar supports a variety of disability rights legislation.