Former Staff to Pelosi Challenges Speaker in 2026

WASHINGTON, DC – Former Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, announced Wednesday his intention to challenge longtime Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the 2026 primary election. Chakrabarti, 39, detailed his candidacy in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I’ve got some news: I’ve decided to run against Nancy Pelosi to represent San Francisco in Congress. I know some of you might be surprised that Speaker Emeritus Pelosi is running again, but she is—for her 21st term!” Chakrabarti wrote.

Chakrabarti, who previously worked in the tech sector and for Senator Bernie Sanders, criticized the divide between the Democratic Party’s older, neoliberal leadership and younger, progressive members. “I respect what Nancy Pelosi has accomplished in her career, but we are living in a totally different America than the one she knew when she entered politics 45 years ago,” Chakrabarti stated. “In an interview with Ezra Klein after Trump’s victory, Pelosi said the Democrats don’t need to change. I disagree. When Democrats were about to appoint their star communicator—Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—to chair the powerful Oversight committee to hold Trump and his cronies accountable, Pelosi personally intervened to block it.”

While Pelosi hasn’t publicly confirmed her candidacy, she filed paperwork indicating intent to run for reelection in 2026. Even with the former House Speaker’s age, she faces a challenging primary in San Francisco, a district she’s represented for nearly 40 years. Chakrabarti acknowledged the difficulty of unseating an incumbent, particularly in the current political climate, but expressed optimism. “I’m going to run a very different kind of campaign than most. Instead of spending hours each day doing ‘call time’ with big money donors—I’m going to spend every day talking with voters. I know! What a radical idea!” Chakrabarti wrote.

Chakrabarti highlighted the changing needs of Americans compared to Pelosi’s political experience. “When Nancy Pelosi was first elected to Congress, you could buy a home on a single income. A summer job could pay for college. Republicans believed in climate change and respected election results,” Chakrabarti’s statement continued. “Now, the things that defined the American Dream—being able to afford health care, education, a home, and raise a family—are impossible for most people…. The Democratic Party needs to stop acting like it’s competing against a normal political party that plays by the rules, and it needs a bold vision for how to raise living standards, quality of life and security for all Americans.”