Saikat Chakrabarti’s Campaign Launch Brings In The Young

Photo: https://www.saikat.us

India-West News Desk

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Evoking media comparisons to the insurgent and progressive campaign of New York’s Zohran Mamdani, Saikat Chakrabarti officially launched his campaign on July 29 to challenge Nancy Pelosi’s longstanding congressional seat in San Francisco.

A crowd of hundreds of enthusiastic supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters, signaling a surge of youthful energy and a growing demand for change within the city’s Democratic base.

Chakrabarti, a former chief of staff to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and an early Stripe employee, blends significant personal resources with grassroots appeal to energize a new generation of voters. The San Francisco Standard noted his “vibes-based” campaign style, combining fundraising muscle with an authentic, youth-driven movement that rejects traditional politics in favor of systemic reform.

At the launch event, Chakrabarti laid out a platform centered on solving San Francisco’s acute housing crisis. He also tackled national issues head-on, condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide,” calling for major shifts in U.S. foreign policy, and denouncing the Trump administration’s climate and immigration agendas.

Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco since 1987 and made history as the first female Speaker of the House, has yet to announce her intentions for the 2026 election.

Chakrabarti emphasizes the urgent need for internal party reform. “Democrats can’t just rely on the status quo to win,” he said. “We must confront those who paved the way for Trump’s return and push for real change.”