Who Is Saikat Chakrabarti?
Chakrabarti gained notoriety as the driving force behind AOC’s 2018 congressional win and co-founded the progressive PAC Brand New Congress. His background in tech—specifically with Stripe and Silicon Valley start-ups—has earned him financial support, but it hasn’t translated into real-world leadership experience.
Now, at 39, he’s hoping to ride a wave of progressive discontent into Congress by taking on Pelosi in one of America’s most reliably blue districts. At his campaign kickoff, roughly 120 people attended—a modest showing in a city of nearly 900,000, many of whom have never heard his name.
His platform criticizes Pelosi’s incrementalism and calls for “rebuilding society.” But his language, tone, and framing suggest a candidate not just frustrated with government—but someone who views it as actively illegitimate.
Legal Red Flags: When Free Speech Crosses the Line
Let’s revisit his quote: “There is a real coup going on in D.C.,” and Democrats aren’t doing enough to stop it.
That phrasing alone should send shudders down the spine of every voter. Accusing the federal government of being overthrown is not just reckless—it can be seen as a call to action, especially if repeated by a candidate with national ambitions.
It’s not about silencing dissent—it’s about protecting the line between political criticism and dangerous demagoguery. These comments raise questions about whether Chakrabarti is prepared to uphold the Constitution or if he sees himself as a revolutionary within the halls of Congress.