SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Indian American political activist Saikat Chakrabarti officially launched his campaign for Congress in California’s 11th Congressional District with the opening of his campaign headquarters in San Francisco last month.

The event drew a strong crowd. More than 500 supporters attended, and 465 had RSVP’d in advance. The turnout reflected enthusiasm behind Chakrabarti’s challenge to longtime incumbent and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Chakrabarti, 39, addressed the crowd and emphasized the importance of early grassroots engagement.
“We’re still almost a year away from the primary, and seeing this kind of enthusiasm shows how ready San Francisco voters are for change,” he said during his remarks.

Supporters took part in a live Q&A session with Chakrabarti and enjoyed food served by local restaurant Beit Rima. 

Oscar Arbulu, the campaign’s chief organizing officer, said the team aims to create a historic field operation.
“We’re building the biggest field operation in the history of congressional races,” Arbulu said. “Our volunteer-driven approach empowers voters at every step, and we welcome anyone eager to be part of this historic movement.”

The campaign is organizing thousands of volunteers across the district. Their strategy centers on door-to-door outreach, phone banking, and community events. Campaign manager Zack Exley said the strong turnout was an early sign of serious support.
“This community support shows a real hunger for meaningful change and effective representation,” Exley said.

Chakrabarti has built a national profile in progressive political circles. A Harvard-educated software engineer, he made his early fortune working at tech startups and Stripe. He shifted to politics in 2015, joining Bernie Sanders’s first presidential campaign.

He later co-founded Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress, two organizations aimed at electing progressive candidates. In 2018, he managed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s breakthrough congressional campaign and served as her first chief of staff. During that time, he helped shape the early framework of the Green New Deal.

Now, he’s bringing that experience to his race. His campaign frames the election as both a generational and ideological shift within the Democratic Party.

“I’ve helped build movements before. I know what it takes to win,” Chakrabarti has said in past interviews. “Now I’m running to fight for a government that works for working people.”

Chakrabarti is challenging one of the most powerful Democrats in the country. Nancy Pelosi has represented the district since 1987 and served twice as Speaker of the House. She remains a leading figure in the Democratic Party.

While Chakrabarti respects Pelosi’s legacy, his campaign argues that the district needs new leadership with bold ideas. He is focusing on issues like climate action, economic justice, and political reform.

Many observers see this race as a test of the strength of the progressive movement in one of the country’s most liberal cities. Early signs suggest Chakrabarti’s campaign is gaining traction, especially among younger voters and community activists.

The California primary is still months away, but the race for the 11th District is already drawing national attention. With a seasoned political strategist and growing grassroots support, Chakrabarti hopes to unseat one of the most established Democrats in Washington.

His team continues to organize across the district, pushing a message of bold change and inclusive politics. As the primary draws closer, Chakrabarti’s campaign says it will expand its efforts to reach every voter in the district.

“We’re building something big here,” Arbulu said. “This is about more than just one race. It’s about transforming how politics works for everyone.”