Former AOC Aide Launches Primary Challenge to Nancy Pelosi for House Seat – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
1:23 PM – Thursday, February 6, 2025
Saikat Chakrabarti, who previously served as chief of staff for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has declared his intention to run against former Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her long-held House seat.
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In a recent post on X, Chakrabarti reflected on his experience with Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and how it shaped his readiness to pursue a congressional position.
“After serving as her campaign manager and first chief of staff, I returned to San Francisco where for five years I’ve headed a policy think tank that develops in-depth solutions to the issues confronting both America and San Francisco,” he noted in a statement.
“Now, I aim to bring these solutions to Congress. I plan to run a distinctly different type of campaign. Instead of spending countless hours engaging with major donors, I intend to dedicate my time to interacting with voters. I know! What a bold concept,” he added.
He also mentioned that his campaign will present an “alternative vision” to the governance style showcased by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
“Observing Trump and Elon exploit chaos through their unlawful takeover of government, it has become evident to me that the Democratic Party needs fresh leadership,” he remarked.
“While I respect Nancy Pelosi’s achievements throughout her career, we currently inhabit a vastly different America than the one she entered politics in 45 years ago,” Chakrabarti stated.
“In an interview with Ezra Klein following Trump’s victory, Pelosi expressed that Democrats do not need to change. I beg to differ.”
Nonetheless, Chakrabarti acknowledged the inherent challenges of competing as a political newcomer against Pelosi’s extensive experience.
“It might seem premature to commence a campaign. However, the reality is that defeating incumbents in our political system is extremely difficult, even during an era when both Congress and the Democratic Party are experiencing record-low approval ratings,” he stated.
“Achieving victory in this campaign will necessitate months of diligent organizing…”
The challenger has also previously collaborated with Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders.
In the meantime, Ocasio-Cortez has yet to comment on Chakrabarti’s entry into the race.
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