Antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan is in search of 10,198 autographs of her closest friends, signatures she'll need to get on the ballot in California to face House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Sheehan filed papers on Friday to make her bid official for Pelosi's California House district, but first she'll need to gather the signatures by Aug. 8, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Sheehan is running an independent campaign.

"It's an uphill battle," Sheehan said, according to the Chronicle. "But I'm excited about the signature-gathering process. It's going to be an opportunity to talk to people about our campaign."

She also said: "I'll represent everyone in San Francisco, not just the corporate elite. ... I'm working class, my family was working class, and we have struggled the same way our neighbors here in San Francisco have struggled."

Sheehan said she would run against Pelosi if the House speaker did not back impeachment of President Bush. Pelosi has said that is not an option.

Sheehan first drew public attention in 2004 after her son Casey was killed while serving in Iraq. She camped near President Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch and drew hundreds of protesters and media. Since then, she has been arrested a number of antiwar protests, and met with a number of controversial figures including Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

The Chronicle reports that Sheehan has raised $100,000 so far for her race, most of which is coming from outside the congressional district.

Click here to see the full report in the San Francisco Chronicle.