ADVERTISEMENTs
.png)
Saikat Chakrabarti launches Congressional bid against Pelosi
Chakrabarti criticized Democratic leadership for being “paralyzed and unprepared” in the face of what he described as threats from President Trump and Elon Musk.
Saikat Chakrabarti / Image- X (@saikatc)
Indian-American political activist and former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Saikat Chakrabarti, has announced his candidacy for California's 11th congressional district, challenging longtime incumbent Nancy Pelosi in the 2026 election.
Chakrabarti, who was born to Indian Bengali parents in Texas, is a progressive and vocal advocate for structural reforms within the Democratic Party. He made his announcement on social media, emphasizing the need for new leadership to address contemporary political and economic challenges.
“I’ve decided to run against Nancy Pelosi to represent San Francisco in Congress. I know some of you might be surprised that Speaker Emeritus Pelosi is running again, but she is — for her 21st term!” Chakrabarti said.
“Watching Trump and Elon freely unleash chaos in their illegal seizure of government, it’s become clear to me that the Democratic Party needs new leadership,” he added.
I’ve got some news: I’ve decided to run against Nancy Pelosi to represent San Francisco in Congress. I know some of you might be surprised that Speaker Emeritus Pelosi is running again, but she is — for her 21st term!
— Saikat Chakrabarti (@saikatc) February 5, 2025
Watching Trump and Elon freely unleash chaos in their illegal…
He criticized Democratic leadership for being “paralyzed and unprepared” in the face of what he described as threats from President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. He also took aim at Pelosi’s past decision to block Ocasio-Cortez from chairing the House Oversight Committee, arguing that the party needs a more proactive approach to governance.
“I respect what Nancy Pelosi has accomplished in her career, but we are living in a totally different America than the one she knew when she entered politics 45 years ago,” he said, pointing to economic struggles such as housing affordability, rising education costs, and the need for progressive policies.
Chakrabarti emphasized that economic conditions have drastically shifted since Pelosi first took office, highlighting issues such as housing affordability, healthcare costs, and college tuition. “The things that defined the American Dream—being able to afford health care, education, a home, and raising a family—are impossible for most people,” he said.
The Harvard-educated software engineer and political strategist rose to prominence during the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders, where he played a key role in organizing grassroots technology efforts. He later co-founded Brand New Congress, an initiative aimed at electing progressive candidates to office.
Chakrabarti was also instrumental in Ocasio-Cortez’s successful 2018 campaign, serving as her campaign manager and later her chief of staff before founding the think tank New Consensus, which promotes progressive policy solutions.
His campaign, he said, will focus on voter engagement rather than traditional fundraising from major donors. “Instead of spending hours each day doing ‘call time’ with big money donors—I’m going to spend every day talking with voters,” he stated.
Chakrabarti acknowledged the difficulties of unseating an incumbent, stating that his campaign would require “months of organizing—online and on the street—to connect with every single voter in San Francisco.” He also announced plans for weekly Zoom calls to discuss national issues and the future of the Democratic Party.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login