Saikat Chakrabarti Announces Primary Challenge Against Nancy Pelosi in 2026

The former chief of staff to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticizes Democratic leadership and calls for generational change in San Francisco's congressional race.

Saikat Chakrabarti, a 39-year-old progressive activist and former chief of staff to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has declared his candidacy for California's 11th congressional district in the 2026 Democratic primary.
Chakrabarti contends that the Democratic Party's current leadership, including 84-year-old Nancy Pelosi, is out of touch with the challenges of modern America and unprepared to counter figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
He has pledged to run a voter-focused campaign, eschewing traditional big-money fundraising in favor of direct engagement with constituents in San Francisco.
Chakrabarti has criticized Pelosi for blocking progressive initiatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's potential chairmanship of the House Oversight Committee, and for opposing significant changes within the Democratic Party.
Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987 and recently filed for reelection, would be seeking her 21st term in office if she officially announces her candidacy.