Saikat Chakrabarti, the former chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has announced his candidacy for Congress. He aims to unseat veteran politician, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi representing San Francisco.
A Bid Against Nancy Pelosi
Chakrabarti, 39, launched his campaign on Wednesday, expressing surprise that Pelosi is seeking a 21st term.
“I know some of you might be surprised that Speaker Emeritus Pelosi is running again, but she is — for her 21st term!” he stated.
His candidacy comes at a turbulent time for Democrats as they navigate the challenges of a second Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress and Senate. Trump’s victory in 2024 saw him winning both the Electoral College and the popular vote.
A Call for New Leadership
In his campaign announcement, Chakrabarti criticized the Democratic Party’s response to Trump’s return to power and the rise of influential figures such as Elon Musk.
“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 wrote.
