Saikat Chakrabarti, once the chief of staff for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is a Democratic hopeful in the San Francisco district. This district is currently represented by Nancy Pelosi, who is set to retire. Chakrabarti’s campaign is gaining attention due to a past tweet that caused a stir, and his connection with Ocasio-Cortez, which he frequently highlights.
Chakrabarti began his political journey at the side of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, becoming her campaign manager during her inaugural congressional campaign in 2018. This relationship is essential to his campaign, with Chakrabarti often stressing his role alongside Ocasio-Cortez. Yet, as he bids for Pelosi’s seat, the dynamics appear complex. A mobile billboard with the message “A.O.C. FIRED SAIKAT” underscores these tensions.
On the other hand, Ocasio-Cortez remains silent about Chakrabarti in her public endorsements of other left-wing candidates, such as those she supports in Philadelphia and Western Montana. Her non-mention of Chakrabarti creates challenges for him as election day nears.
As the campaign progresses, Connie Chan, a leftist San Francisco supervisor, competes against Chakrabarti. Chan recently received a pivotal endorsement from Nancy Pelosi. Meanwhile, Chakrabarti works to secure a spot in the election’s final round, facing stiff competition from Chan and State Senator Scott Wiener, both Democrats.