Saikat Chakrabarti is the Indian-American politician and former engineer, has launched a challenge to unseat incumbent Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi in the 2026 California’s 11th Congressional District primary. Sharp critic of party leadership, the one-time chief of staff to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has faulted senior Democrats for losing their connection with the base and remaining insensitive to contemporary political realities.
Saikat Chakrabarti: Call for Renewal in the Democratic Party
In a recent interview with Zeteo, Chakrabarti said he would not support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries if elected to Congress arguing that the current leadership has failed the party. He went further, suggesting that Jeffries himself should face a primary challenge. “I’m going to be calling for people to primary all the Democrats who have completely failed this party,” he said.
Chakrabarti shared an excerpt from the interview on X, highlighting the need for generational change and change within the party. “It’s not just me,” he said. “Close to 80 congressional candidates refused to back Jeffries as leader. We need fresh faces all over the country to make this party so that it can fight to protect democracy and build an economy that benefits working people.”
It’s not just me. Nearly 80 people running for Congress declined to support Jeffries for leader.
We need new people to run across the country to completely rebuild this party to be one that can stop an authoritarian coup and build an economy that works for working people. https://t.co/wkolhTRXiU
— Saikat Chakrabarti for Congress (@saikatc) October 27, 2025
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Saikat Chakrabarti: From Tech to Politics
A Harvard computer science graduate his journey from Silicon Valley to Capitol Hill reflects a deep commitment to progressive causes after moving to San Francisco in 2009, he entered politics and soon became a key figure in the progressive movement.
He worked on Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign and later co-founded Justice Democrats a political action committee that helped recruit progressive candidates nationwide. One of its greatest achievements was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 win and where he worked as campaign strategist and afterwards as her chief of staff.
Saikat Chakrabarti: Challenging the Old Guard
Now targeting Pelosi, who is running for her 21st term Chakrabarti contends that the party requires new blood and leadership appropriate for today’s challenges.
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“She was a fighter when she came to Congress in 1987,” he posted on his campaign website. “But she no longer grasps the anti-democratic forces we confront today. At 85, she does not have the vigor for this fight.”
Saikat Chakrabarti Future in Democrats
Chakrabarti’s campaign taps into growing frustration among younger Democrats who want a more responsive and reform oriented party whether he can convert that energy into a serious challenge against Pelosi remains to be seen, but his candidacy signals that a generational shift in Democratic politics may be on the horizon.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and editorial purposes only and does not imply endorsement or political affiliation.
