Democrat Nancy Pelosi has a new challenge ahead of her. Saikat Chakrabarti, a progressive political activist and former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has announced his candidacy for California’s 11th Congressional District, challenging longtime incumbent Rep. Nancy Pelosi in the 2026 Democratic primary.
Chakrabarti, 39, co-founded the progressive group Justice Democrats and played a pivotal role in Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 congressional victory. He is positioning his campaign as a call for generational change within the Democratic Party, criticizing Pelosi’s leadership as emblematic of a status quo that he believes is ill-equipped to address contemporary challenges.
“Nancy Pelosi entered politics 45 years ago,” Chakrabarti stated on his campaign website. “Today, even highly-paid professionals struggle to afford decent housing, healthcare, and education. MAGA Republicans are tearing apart virtually every public institution.” He argues that the Democratic Party requires new leadership capable of confronting these issues head-on.
Pelosi, 85, has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987 and served as Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. She filed for re-election in 2024 and won with 81% of the vote, reported Newsweek.
Chakrabarti’s campaign emphasizes policies such as universal healthcare, affordable childcare, and campaign finance reform. He is self-funding his campaign and rejecting corporate PAC contributions, aiming to build a grassroots movement similar to those he has supported in the past.
While Pelosi has not publicly addressed Chakrabarti’s challenge, she remains a formidable figure in Democratic politics, with significant fundraising capabilities and deep-rooted support in her district. Political analysts view Chakrabarti’s bid as an uphill battle but acknowledge that it reflects a broader push among younger Democrats for party renewal and more aggressive policy stances.
The 2026 primary is expected to be a focal point in the ongoing debate over the Democratic Party’s direction, highlighting tensions between established leadership and emerging progressive voices.