Former AOC staffer to primary Pelosi as yearslong feud continues
By Ray Bogan (Political Correspondent)
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s former chief of staff is launching a primary challenge against Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Saikat Chakrabarti said the Democratic Party needs new leadership.
- When Chakrabarti worked on Capitol Hill for Ocasio-Cortez in 2019, he was loathed by lawmakers and staff alike.
- Challenging Pelosi’s legacy and funding streams will be a difficult feat.
Full Story
The former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., is launching a primary campaign against Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. In his announcement, Saikat Chakrabarti said that the Democratic Party needs new leadership and that Pelosi should not be elected to a 21st term.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Ex-AOC aide launches primary challenge to Pelosi
Click to see story on Daily KosAOC’s Former Chief of Staff Files to Run Against Pelosi
Click to see story on The Daily BeastProgressive Saikat Chakrabarti to Challenge Nancy Pelosi in 2026
Click to see story on Common DreamsNancy Pelosi Gets a Surprising New Primary Challenger
Click to see story on The New RepublicWho is Saikat Chakrabarti, Indian-origin man up against Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco race?
Click to see story on Hindustan TimesAOC’s Ex-Chief of Staff Says He’ll Try To Oust ‘Paralyzed and Unprepared’ Nancy Pelosi
Click to see story on MediaiteAOC Ex-Staffer Announces Shock Decision to Run for Congress Against Nancy Pelosi: ‘The Democratic Party Needs New Leadership’
Click to see story on Latin TimesProgressive Challenger Takes Aim At California Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Click to see story on The Free Press (Tampa)AOC’s former chief of staff to take a run at ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ Pelosi · American Wire News
Click to see story on American Wire NewsFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump – INTELLI.NEWS
Click to see story on Fox NewsUntracked Bias
Generational challenge in the Democratic Party: Chakrabarti vs. Pelosi in San Francisco
Click to see story on Quotidiano NazionaleNancy Pelosi gets new young challenger for congressional seat
Click to see story on TAG24Former AOC chief of staff announces run to unseat Pelosi – khbrknews
Click to see story on khbrknewsAll about Saikat, progressive activist against Nancy Pelosi for San Francisco seat
Click to see story on NEWS9 LIVEFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump
Click to see story on The New York LedgerFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump – Democratic Accent
Click to see story on democraticaccent.comFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump | Fox Wilmington WSFX-TVAccessibility ToolsIncrease TextDecrease TextGrayscaleHigh ContrastNegative ContrastLight BackgroundLinks UnderlineReadable F
Click to see story on foxwilmington.com“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 wrote on X. “After Trump’s victory, Pelosi said the Democrats don’t need to change. I disagree.”
What was the staffer like on Capitol Hill?
When Chakrabarti worked on Capitol Hill for Ocasio-Cortez in 2019, he was loathed by lawmakers and staff alike. He once picked a fight with Pelosi on Twitter, soon after she was elected speaker.
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He doubted whether she was really a “legislative mastermind” and said freshman members like Ocasio-Cortez were more strategic. Chakrabarti also said Pelosi was “outmaneuvered” by Republicans.
The freshman staff member lost his battle with the speaker, who is described as having “an iron fist in a Gucci glove.” He resigned after just eight months on the job.
Why did Chakrabarti decide to run, and what are his chances?
While Chakrabarti struck a respectful tone with Pelosi in his announcement, he made it clear he believes Americans had it better when she started her career than they do now.
“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 wrote. “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.”
He also mentioned the inside-the-Beltway political fight between Ocasio-Cortez and Pelosi that has continued since 2019.
“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,” Chakrabarti wrote.
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Challenging a politician with Pelosi’s legacy will not be an easy feat; her bank account is another matter. Pelosi has more than $2 million cash-on-hand in her campaign account, and she has a fundraising prowess that’s matched by few others.
After all, being the speaker means you are the chief fundraiser for your party. Chakrabarti is reportedly a millionaire and may be able to self-finance part of his campaign.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Ex-AOC aide launches primary challenge to Pelosi
Click to see story on Daily KosAOC’s Former Chief of Staff Files to Run Against Pelosi
Click to see story on The Daily BeastProgressive Saikat Chakrabarti to Challenge Nancy Pelosi in 2026
Click to see story on Common DreamsNancy Pelosi Gets a Surprising New Primary Challenger
Click to see story on The New RepublicWho is Saikat Chakrabarti, Indian-origin man up against Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco race?
Click to see story on Hindustan TimesAOC’s Ex-Chief of Staff Says He’ll Try To Oust ‘Paralyzed and Unprepared’ Nancy Pelosi
Click to see story on MediaiteAOC Ex-Staffer Announces Shock Decision to Run for Congress Against Nancy Pelosi: ‘The Democratic Party Needs New Leadership’
Click to see story on Latin TimesProgressive Challenger Takes Aim At California Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Click to see story on The Free Press (Tampa)AOC’s former chief of staff to take a run at ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ Pelosi · American Wire News
Click to see story on American Wire NewsFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump – INTELLI.NEWS
Click to see story on Fox NewsUntracked Bias
Generational challenge in the Democratic Party: Chakrabarti vs. Pelosi in San Francisco
Click to see story on Quotidiano NazionaleNancy Pelosi gets new young challenger for congressional seat
Click to see story on TAG24Former AOC chief of staff announces run to unseat Pelosi – khbrknews
Click to see story on khbrknewsAll about Saikat, progressive activist against Nancy Pelosi for San Francisco seat
Click to see story on NEWS9 LIVEFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump
Click to see story on The New York LedgerFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump – Democratic Accent
Click to see story on democraticaccent.comFormer AOC chief of staff announces run against Pelosi, calls Dems ‘paralyzed and unprepared’ under Trump | Fox Wilmington WSFX-TVAccessibility ToolsIncrease TextDecrease TextGrayscaleHigh ContrastNegative ContrastLight BackgroundLinks UnderlineReadable F
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