Saikat Chakrabarti , a 39-year-old political organiser and technologist, has emerged as one of the prominent new faces in the race to succeed Nancy Pelosi in the United States Congress. The Indian-origin Democrat, best known for his work alongside Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders , has long stood at the intersection of technology and progressive politics.
From Fort Worth to Harvard
Born to an Indian Bengali family in Fort Worth, Texas, Chakrabarti pursued his early education in the United States before completing a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Harvard University in 2007. His academic grounding in technology shaped much of his early professional life. After graduating, he joined Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, before moving to Silicon Valley.
Over the next six years, he worked across several technology startups, including as a founding engineer at the financial services firm Stripe. He later co-founded a tech venture named Mockingbird. In a post shared on X, Chakrabarti recalled his decision to relocate to San Francisco in 2009, saying he had “always been in love with the idea of the city”.
From technology to progressive politics
Chakrabarti’s move into politics stemmed from his growing interest in social and economic reform. “I have pursued progressive politics for the past decade or so,” he said in a past interview, reflecting on his shift from technology to public service.
His political involvement began with Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, where he worked to mobilise grassroots support for the Vermont senator’s progressive platform. Following the campaign, Chakrabarti co-founded Justice Democrats in 2017, a political action committee designed to recruit and support progressive candidates across the United States. The same year, he also helped launch Brand New Congress , an organisation created to bring new leadership into congressional races nationwide.
Architect of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign
Among Chakrabarti’s most notable achievements was his role in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s successful 2018 congressional campaign in New York. As her campaign manager and later chief of staff, he helped craft a message centred on economic equity, environmental justice, and political accountability.
In 2019, Chakrabarti and Ocasio-Cortez were key figures behind the Green New Deal, a policy framework that sought to address climate change through large-scale investments in renewable energy and job creation. Their collaboration symbolised a new generation of Democrats pushing for systemic change. To highlight the urgency of climate action, they joined climate activists in a sit-in at the office of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Entering the race to replace Nancy Pelosi
Now, years later, Chakrabarti finds himself preparing to contest Pelosi’s congressional seat as she steps down after a four-decade-long political career. Pelosi, 85, announced her decision not to seek re-election in 2026, shortly after California voters approved Proposition 50, a redistricting measure expected to strengthen Democratic prospects in the next midterm elections.
Chakrabarti announced his candidacy in February, positioning himself as a reform-driven Democrat focused on representing working-class Americans. In an interview with Prospect magazine, he expressed frustration with the party’s direction in recent years. “I really thought after Trump’s second election, the Democrats would have some sort of ‘come to Jesus’ moment,” he said, adding that he found the leadership’s response “completely inadequate”.
Speaking to Fox News, he described his campaign as an opportunity to build “a movement that really stands for working people”.
A competitive race ahead
Chakrabarti’s entry into the race sets up a competitive contest in San Francisco’s congressional district. Other potential candidates include California State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, and Christine Pelosi, the daughter of the outgoing congresswoman.
Polling by GrowSF, a local political group, suggests Chakrabarti has “a better shot than any challenger in many years”, reflecting both his organisational experience and his appeal among younger progressives.
The next chapter
For Chakrabarti, the race is about more than a congressional seat — it is an extension of a decade-long effort to reshape the Democratic Party from within. His journey from Harvard classrooms to Silicon Valley boardrooms, and later to the heart of America’s progressive movement, illustrates a rare blend of technical expertise and political conviction.
As Nancy Pelosi’s long tenure draws to a close, Saikat Chakrabarti’s bid represents a generational transition within the Democratic ranks, one that seeks to balance idealism with governance, and activism with policy.
From Fort Worth to Harvard
Born to an Indian Bengali family in Fort Worth, Texas, Chakrabarti pursued his early education in the United States before completing a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Harvard University in 2007. His academic grounding in technology shaped much of his early professional life. After graduating, he joined Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, before moving to Silicon Valley.
Over the next six years, he worked across several technology startups, including as a founding engineer at the financial services firm Stripe. He later co-founded a tech venture named Mockingbird. In a post shared on X, Chakrabarti recalled his decision to relocate to San Francisco in 2009, saying he had “always been in love with the idea of the city”.
Thank you, @SpeakerPelosi , for your decades of service that defined a generation of politics and for doing something truly rare in Washington: making room for the next one. pic.twitter.com/EE1G8evEK9
— Saikat Chakrabarti for Congress (@saikatc) November 6, 2025
From technology to progressive politics
Chakrabarti’s move into politics stemmed from his growing interest in social and economic reform. “I have pursued progressive politics for the past decade or so,” he said in a past interview, reflecting on his shift from technology to public service.
His political involvement began with Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, where he worked to mobilise grassroots support for the Vermont senator’s progressive platform. Following the campaign, Chakrabarti co-founded Justice Democrats in 2017, a political action committee designed to recruit and support progressive candidates across the United States. The same year, he also helped launch Brand New Congress , an organisation created to bring new leadership into congressional races nationwide.
Architect of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign
Among Chakrabarti’s most notable achievements was his role in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s successful 2018 congressional campaign in New York. As her campaign manager and later chief of staff, he helped craft a message centred on economic equity, environmental justice, and political accountability.
In 2019, Chakrabarti and Ocasio-Cortez were key figures behind the Green New Deal, a policy framework that sought to address climate change through large-scale investments in renewable energy and job creation. Their collaboration symbolised a new generation of Democrats pushing for systemic change. To highlight the urgency of climate action, they joined climate activists in a sit-in at the office of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Entering the race to replace Nancy Pelosi
Now, years later, Chakrabarti finds himself preparing to contest Pelosi’s congressional seat as she steps down after a four-decade-long political career. Pelosi, 85, announced her decision not to seek re-election in 2026, shortly after California voters approved Proposition 50, a redistricting measure expected to strengthen Democratic prospects in the next midterm elections.
Chakrabarti announced his candidacy in February, positioning himself as a reform-driven Democrat focused on representing working-class Americans. In an interview with Prospect magazine, he expressed frustration with the party’s direction in recent years. “I really thought after Trump’s second election, the Democrats would have some sort of ‘come to Jesus’ moment,” he said, adding that he found the leadership’s response “completely inadequate”.
Speaking to Fox News, he described his campaign as an opportunity to build “a movement that really stands for working people”.
A competitive race ahead
Chakrabarti’s entry into the race sets up a competitive contest in San Francisco’s congressional district. Other potential candidates include California State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, and Christine Pelosi, the daughter of the outgoing congresswoman.
Polling by GrowSF, a local political group, suggests Chakrabarti has “a better shot than any challenger in many years”, reflecting both his organisational experience and his appeal among younger progressives.
The next chapter
For Chakrabarti, the race is about more than a congressional seat — it is an extension of a decade-long effort to reshape the Democratic Party from within. His journey from Harvard classrooms to Silicon Valley boardrooms, and later to the heart of America’s progressive movement, illustrates a rare blend of technical expertise and political conviction.
As Nancy Pelosi’s long tenure draws to a close, Saikat Chakrabarti’s bid represents a generational transition within the Democratic ranks, one that seeks to balance idealism with governance, and activism with policy.
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