Saikat Chakrabarti’s Congressional Bid in San Francisco

Saikat Chakrabarti, the former chief of staff to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is running for Congress in San Francisco. He aims to succeed Representative Nancy Pelosi, who is set to retire. Chakrabarti, a Democrat, has a notable history with Pelosi, highlighted by an incendiary tweet from seven years ago that caused tension between them.

Chakrabarti’s current run for office in the San Francisco district has brought his previous political relationships to the forefront. His campaign leverages his past association with Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent Democratic representative from New York. Despite his efforts to highlight this connection, a billboard trailing his campaign events suggests a complicated past, reading, “A.O.C. FIRED SAIKAT.” The message refers to their professional split in 2019.

With the primary approaching, Chakrabarti emphasizes his anti-establishment stance. He frequently mentions his collaboration with Ocasio-Cortez in public addresses and campaign materials. However, Ocasio-Cortez has remained notably silent about Chakrabarti during her endorsements of other progressive House candidates.

Connie Chan, a San Francisco supervisor and Chakrabarti’s main opponent, gained significant support by securing an endorsement from Nancy Pelosi. Both Chakrabarti and Chan are behind in the polls to State Senator Scott Wiener, making every endorsement and public appearance crucial as the primary date of June 2 approaches.

Chakrabarti’s time as campaign manager during Ocasio-Cortez’s first congressional race in 2018 adds another layer to his political narrative. Despite the complexities of his past alliances, he continues to focus on his vision for the district, striving to capture voter attention in the competitive race.