As Indian-origin Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory in the New York mayoral race reshapes America’s political landscape, another South Asian leader is preparing for his own breakthrough moment. Saikat Chakrabarti, 39, a progressive Democrat and long-time political organiser, is now emerging as one of the frontrunners to secure the Democratic Party’s nomination for the San Francisco congressional seat, following veteran leader Nancy Pelosi’s announcement of retirement.
For many progressives, Pelosi’s decision marks the end of an era — and for Chakrabarti, it represents an opening to push forward a new generation of reformist politics within the Democratic Party. Much like Zohran Mamdani, whose historic victory in New York inspired a new wave of left-leaning activism, Chakrabarti belongs to the insurgent wing of the party — one that seeks to challenge establishment politics and focus on systemic change.
Chakrabarti’s reaction to Mamdani’s win reflected this shared political ethos. “Zohran proved it doesn’t matter how much money they throw at you. Organised people beat organised money if you stand for real change,” he wrote on X, celebrating what he called a victory for people-powered politics over entrenched interests. His message resonated deeply among progressive activists, particularly those frustrated with corporate influence in Washington.
When Chakrabarti launched his congressional campaign earlier this year, he described it as a fight to reclaim politics for the working class. “This is really the chance we have for a movement that stands for working people,” he said, outlining a platform centred on affordability, climate justice, and wealth redistribution. Now, with Pelosi stepping aside after nearly four decades representing California’s 11th congressional district, Chakrabarti’s chances have gained real momentum.
Unlike establishment Democrats, who often take a cautious stance on issues like taxation and economic regulation, Chakrabarti has embraced bold policies such as a wealth tax and aggressive campaign-finance reforms. “I want to completely change the brand of the Democratic Party,” he said earlier this year, adding that he would “happily tax myself” if it meant addressing inequality and funding social programs. His unapologetic rhetoric has drawn both praise and criticism, with moderates warning that his platform could alienate centrist voters, while progressives hail him as a visionary unafraid to challenge the status quo.
Born in Texas to Bengali immigrant parents, Saikat Chakrabarti studied computer science at Harvard University before moving to Silicon Valley, where he co-founded a start-up and later worked at the financial services company Stripe. But in 2015, disillusioned by the corporate world, he left the tech industry to join Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign. His work designing digital infrastructure to mobilise grassroots volunteers impressed party insiders, marking the beginning of his political journey.
In 2017, he co-founded Justice Democrats, a movement aimed at recruiting fresh progressive candidates to challenge long-serving incumbents. The group played a crucial role in recruiting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), and Chakrabarti went on to manage her 2018 campaign — a victory that stunned political observers when AOC unseated a powerful Democratic leader in New York.
Chakrabarti later became Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff in Congress, where he helped shape her early legislative agenda, including the first draft of the Green New Deal. His tenure in Washington cemented his reputation as a strategist and organiser with a clear ideological vision — though it also brought him controversy.
In 2019, he found himself in the headlines for wearing a T-shirt depicting Indian freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, which sparked a media storm in the US. While many Indian-Americans viewed it as a gesture of cultural pride, some conservative commentators accused him of glorifying a figure with alleged wartime ties to Nazi Germany. Chakrabarti dismissed the criticism, saying he admired Bose’s anti-colonial legacy, not the politics of his alliances.
Today, as the Democratic Party grapples with generational and ideological divides, Chakrabarti’s candidacy symbolises a broader struggle over its future direction. His campaign echoes the messaging of Mamdani’s mayoral win — a call to replace entrenched political dynasties with leaders who reflect America’s diverse, younger, and more economically precarious population.
There are currently five Indian-Americans in the US Congress — Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, and Shri Thanedar — and nearly 40 others in state legislatures, the highest representation among Asian-origin communities. If Chakrabarti secures the Democratic nomination and wins the general election, he will become the sixth Indian-American member of Congress, further strengthening the representation of South Asians in US politics.
The Democratic primary for the San Francisco seat will take place in June next year, and the contest is expected to be one of the most closely watched races of 2026. For many progressives, Chakrabarti’s potential victory — like Mamdani’s — could mark another defining chapter in the ongoing transformation of the Democratic Party.
