San Francisco, CA— Saikat Chakrabarti, a 39-year-old Indian-American tech entrepreneur and former chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has officially announced his candidacy for California’s 11th Congressional District. He will be running against longtime Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi in the 2026 election, citing a need for generational change and bolder progressive action.
-
Chakrabarti announced his candidacy on February 5, 2025, targeting California’s 11th District seat currently held by Pelosi.
-
Nancy Pelosi, 85, has served in Congress since 1987 and filed for re-election in November 2024.
-
Chakrabarti is a Harvard graduate, co-founder of Justice Democrats, and key architect behind the Green New Deal.
Chakrabarti’s campaign calls for bold new leadership and progressive reforms that he argues are more aligned with the challenges of today’s political landscape. His criticism of Pelosi centers on her decades-long tenure and what he sees as an outdated approach to power, particularly in confronting climate change, tech monopolies, and inequality. He also cited the urgency to resist figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump, saying “we need a new generation of fighters.”
Pelosi remains a towering figure in Democratic politics, and while she has not yet officially launched a campaign, her re-election filing in 2024 indicates an intent to run. Her presence in the race will likely draw national attention to this clash between establishment legacy and rising progressive energy.
For Chakrabarti, this race is about more than a congressional seat—it's part of a larger push within the Democratic Party to replace status quo leadership with bold, progressive voices ready to tackle complex 21st-century issues head-on. With a base of young, diverse supporters and grassroots energy, he’s positioning himself as the candidate of the future.
“I respect what Nancy Pelosi has accomplished in her career,” Chakrabarti said in an interview, “but we are living in a totally different America than the one she knew when she entered politics 45 years ago.”
Do You Know?
Saikat Chakrabarti co-founded Justice Democrats, the same group that recruited Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for Congress in 2018 and helped launch the progressive wave inside the Democratic Party.
Key Terms
-
Justice Democrats – A progressive political action committee aiming to replace corporate-backed Democrats with grassroots candidates.
-
Green New Deal – A sweeping legislative proposal co-written by Chakrabarti to address climate change and economic justice.
-
California’s 11th District – Covers most of San Francisco and has been Nancy Pelosi’s stronghold for nearly four decades.