Ex-AOC aide launches primary challenge to Pelosi

Saikat Chakrabarti said he would initiate a bid to challenge former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the party primary for the seat she's held for more than two decades, citing concerns with new government regulations.

In the post announcing his candidacy, he spoke about his time with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

"After serving as her campaign manager and first chief of staff, I returned to San Francisco where for five years I've led a policy think tank that develops comprehensive solutions to the problems that both America and San Francisco face," he wrote in a statement on the social platform X.

“Now, I want to bring those solutions to Congress. 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,” he stated.

Chakrabarti said his campaign would offer an “alternative vision" to President Trump and Elon Musk’s form of government.

“Watching Trump and Elon freely unleash chaos in their illegal seizure of government, it’s become clear to me that the Democratic Party needs new leadership,” he said. 

He argued Pelosi was disconnected from the average voters' everyday problems.

“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 said in the statement. 

“In an interview with Ezra Klein after Trump’s victory, Pelosi said the Democrats don’t need to change. I disagree.”

Chakrabarti followed the statement by acknowledging the race would be an uphill battle as a political newcomer.

"I know it might seem like it's a little early to start running. But the fact is, it's almost impossible to defeat incumbents in our system — even at a time when both Congress and the Democratic Party stand at record-low approval ratings," he wrote.

“Winning this campaign will require months of organizing…” 

Rep. Ocasio Cortez’s office did not immediately respond to The Hill’s requests for comment on Chakrabarti’s decision to enter the race.