“Saikat Chakrabarti, the mastermind behind Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s groundbreaking campaign, has a proven track record of shaking up politics.”
“Saikat Chakrabarti, a dynamic political activist of Indian descent, is stepping up to challenge House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for her San Francisco seat in Congress. The 39-year-old is no stranger to high-profile campaigns, having led Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s historic election bid and worked alongside Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.”
“On Wednesday, Saikat Chakrabarti revealed his candidacy for the 2026 midterm elections on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that witnessing figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk ‘freely unleash chaos’ during their unlawful attempts to seize power made it clear to him that the Democratic Party requires fresh leadership. ‘I respect Nancy Pelosi’s career achievements, but America today is vastly different from the one she entered politics in 45 years ago,’ he remarked.”
“Nancy Pelosi, 84, has not yet made a public announcement regarding her reelection campaign, though she did file her candidacy with the Federal Election Commission last November.”
Who is Saikat Chakrabarti?
Born in 1986 to an Indian Bengali family in Fort Worth, Texas, Saikat Chakrabarti is a dynamic political activist and entrepreneur. He graduated from Harvard University in 2007 with a degree in computer science. Afterward, he moved to California, where he co-founded Mockingbird, a tech startup. Additionally, he played a key role as a founding engineer at Stripe, a leading payment processing company.
After nearly eight years in the tech industry, Saikat Chakrabarti transitioned into politics, joining Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. Following the conclusion of Sanders’ bid, Chakrabarti, along with others, co-founded a political action committee called Brand New Congress, aimed at reshaping the political landscape with fresh voices and progressive ideals.
Saikat Chakrabarti played a pivotal role in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s stunning congressional victory, serving as her campaign manager and first chief of staff. His strategic leadership helped propel Ocasio-Cortez to victory in the New York congressional race. After her success, Chakrabarti chose to return to San Francisco to pursue new political endeavors.
Saikat Chakrabarti was a key figure behind the Green New Deal, championed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive groups, aiming to tackle both economic inequality and climate change. He has also been a vocal critic of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), advocating for its abolition as part of his broader commitment to social justice and reform.
In 2019, Saikat Chakrabarti was featured on Politico’s “Playbook Power List,” a prestigious compilation of politicians, activists, and operatives poised to make a significant impact on the political landscape in the coming year. His inclusion highlighted his growing influence and potential to shape future political developments.
