Saikat Chakrabarti

Saikat Chakrabarti was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 2007. His career experience includes being a co-founder of New Consensus and Justice Democrats, chief of staff for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, organizing technology for Bernie Sanders’ campaign, and second engineer at Stripe.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Saikat Chakrabarti, and I’m running for Congress in California’s 11th District. I came to San Francisco in 2009 after studying computer science at Harvard and became an early engineer at Stripe. For the son of Indian immigrants who came to this country through a government program that once actively recruited people to help build America, it felt like the American Dream. But as I watched friends, neighbors, and coworkers struggling harder every year just to make rent or afford childcare, I realized that dream was slipping away for most people.

I left tech because I couldn’t ignore the deeper crisis. I wanted to use my skills to fight for an economy and a democracy that actually work for ordinary people. Over the past decade I’ve helped launch some of the biggest progressive campaigns in America: I built organizing tools for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, co-founded Justice Democrats, recruited and ran campaigns for candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and served as her first Chief of Staff where I helped launch the Green New Deal. After leaving Washington, I started the think tank New Consensus to develop detailed plans for how we can rebuild American industry, create millions of high-wage jobs, and tackle the climate crisis.

Now I’m running for Congress because San Franciscans are being crushed by the cost of living and betrayed by leaders who are too comfortable in power to fight for us. We need bold action, and I know how to make it happen.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

San Franciscans, and Americans everywhere, are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Working families, young people, and seniors alike are being priced out of the basics: healthcare, housing, education, and childcare. This didn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of decades of policy that put corporate profits ahead of people. In Congress, I’ll fight for Medicare for All, a national housing plan that builds millions of affordable homes, tuition-free public college, and universal childcare so working families can finally breathe again.Donald Trump is leading an authoritarian coup, and too many Democrats in Washington are either passive or paralyzed in the face of it. My first priority will be protecting San Franciscans from Trump’s attacks and helping lead a collective resistance. That means building the strongest constituent services program in the country, defending the integrity of our elections, and using my position to pull together institutions like law firms, universities, and communities to fight back against Trump’s assault on democracy.We need a modern-day New Deal to rebuild the middle class and stop the march of authoritarianism. Over the past 50 years, millions of good jobs have been shipped overseas and wages for the bottom 50% of American workers have stagnated while costs keep rising. This was not an accident. It was the direct result of decades of economic policy that prioritized short-term corporate earnings and sold out the middle class. I’ll fight for a national mobilization like we had during WWII to build clean industries, create millions of high-paying jobs, and prove that democracy can deliver prosperity for everyone.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about rebuilding an economy that works for working and middle-class families. For decades, wages have been flat while costs have soared. Too many San Franciscans have been forced to leave because the cost of living is unbearable. I’ve spent the last decade working on solutions. In AOC’s office, I launched the Green New Deal to tackle climate change while creating millions of jobs. At New Consensus, I built the Mission for America: a plan to revitalize our economy and put America back into mission mode. In Congress, I’ll fight for Medicare for All, universal pre-K, social housing, and industrial policy that rebuilds good jobs. These ideas aren’t fringe — they’re overwhelmingly popular.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The most important principle for any elected official is loyalty to their constituents. Too many politicians go to Washington and spend their days dialing for dollars from wealthy donors instead of listening to the people who sent them there. I’ve pledged not to take a dime of corporate PAC money, and I spend my time knocking doors, doing Zoom calls, and hearing directly from San Franciscans.

But fixing politics takes more than good intentions. It takes systemic reform. That’s why I’ll fight to ban congressional stock trading, overturn Citizens United, end the revolving door with lobbying, and pass publicly financed elections. We have to make sure our democracy serves the people, not the billionaires and corporate lobbyists.

What is your favorite book? Why?

One of my favorite books is The Defining Moment by Jonathan Alter, about FDR’s first 100 days in office. It shows how, in the face of economic collapse and the rise of fascism, a president used bold leadership and massive public mobilization to save democracy and rebuild the middle class. That history is more relevant now than ever. We’re facing our own crisis of democracy and economy, and it reminds me that with courage and political will, we can rise to the challenge again.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Experience can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, my work on Bernie’s campaign and as AOC’s Chief of Staff taught me exactly how Washington works and how corporate lobbyists kill progress. More importantly, I learned how to fight back and win. On the other hand, too much time in Washington corrupts people. Incumbents get stuck chasing donations and lose touch with the real struggles of their constituents.

I bring the best of both worlds: I know how the system works, I’ve proven I can deliver big ideas like the Green New Deal, and I’ll never cave to the establishment. My commitment is to the people of San Francisco always.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The greatest challenge we face is the collapse of trust in our democracy. People look around and see skyrocketing rents, millions without health insurance, and jobs outsourced overseas while politicians make promises and deliver nothing. That loss of faith is what fuels Trump and the authoritarian right.

To save democracy, we have to prove it can deliver prosperity for everyone. That means Medicare for All, building millions of affordable homes, and a national mission to create millions of high-wage clean jobs. If we do that, we can defeat authoritarianism for good. If we don’t, Trump and the oligarchs will keep winning.

Campaign websiteChakrabarti's campaign website stated the following:Make Life AffordableBuild Millions of HomesWe are in the middle of a national housing crisis, and we are facing it hardest in San Francisco. The median home in our city now costs $1.4 million and rents are 70% higher than the national average. San Francisco should be a city where everyone who works here can afford to live here.In Congress, I will propose legislation for a national housing plan to build millions of new homes across the country, including tens of thousands in San Francisco. This legislation will provide federal funding and technical assistance to cities that quickly approve new housing projects. Cities that have pursued similar plans, such as Austin and Minneapolis, have shown that these reforms result in lower rents and housing prices.But I know that cutting red tape isn't enough. That's why I have a plan for a public financing entity that will directly finance affordable housing that the private market won't build on its own — including starter homes and low-income housing.I will also fight for massive federal investments in public housing. I will vote to repeal the Faircloth Amendment, which blocks the government from building new public housing, and advocate for funding to double the number of public housing units across the country. Many countries around the world, including Austria, Singapore, and Finland, build incredibly high quality social housing. We can do that in San Francisco too.Save Muni and BARTOne of the things I love about living in San Francisco is the public transportation. Muni and BART have been essential part of the city for decades and are key ingredients to building a thriving city for the next century. However, they both face massive budget deficits and devastating cuts to services are looming. This crisis here in San Francisco is unfortunately not unique, as public transportation across the country has been underfunded and neglected for decades.We can fix this. In Congress, I will fight to repurpose funding from new highway projects to instead subsidize the day-to-day operations of transit agencies — something that has not been done since the 1990s. But more funding is not enough. I want to set Muni and BART on a path to thrive for decades to come. For example, I call for using federal incentives to build hundreds of units of affordable housing on Muni-owned land. This would allow Muni to generate more revenue and help solve our housing crisis.Kick Out PG&EIn San Francisco, our utility bills are at the mercy of PG&E. And guess what? They increased electricity rates six different times in 2024, and over the last three years the average PG&E bill has gone up by 56%. The money from these rate hikes isn’t even used to improve infrastructure or services - it goes straight to wealthy shareholders. This means critical infrastructure is not fixed. In fact, the electrical substation that caught on fire and caused the massive blackout in December 2025 has a history of catching on fire and cutting off power! San Franciscans deserve better..It is time to turn PG&E into a public utility that serves the people. San Francisco already has the power to do this through the 1913 Raker Act, yet PG&E has successfully lobbied politicians and regulators for over a century to not enforce this. In Congress, I will use my position to finally enforce the Raker Act and oversee a deal that ends PG&E price gouging once and for all. Once established, I will fight to ensure our public utility has federal funding to develop cutting-edge infrastructure and clean energy technologies.Universal Pre-K and DaycareHere in San Francisco, the average cost of daycare and pre-K is now over $2,000 a month per child — the second largest monthly expense for most families, only eclipsed by housing. For the lucky few who can afford this, there aren't enough spots, and the waitlist for care can be as long as two years. The outrageous cost and stress this places on families does not need to be a fact of life.Childcare is so expensive because the government has underinvested in it for decades. In Congress, I promise to fight for legislation that provides universal childcare to every American. At the same time, we must significantly increase the number of childcare providers, which is why I will fight for federal investments to recruit new childcare workers and pay them as the high-skill professionals they are. I know that with the right leadership, we can have high-quality, affordable childcare centers in every neighborhood in San Francisco.Monthly Child StipendRaising a family has never been more expensive, especially here in San Francisco. Families are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of recurring expenses, such as clothing, school supplies, and groceries. This challenge is especially acute in San Francisco, where the cost of living is nearly 20% higher than the national average. We need to implement bold new plans to put money back into the pockets of parents. That is why I support legislation creating a national child stipend that deposits $300 per child into a parent's bank account each month. Not only will this program help all families make ends meet, studies have shown that it will cut childhood poverty by up to 40%.Medicare for AllThe United States spends more on healthcare than any other country. What do we have to show for it? 27 million uninsured adults, four million uninsured children, ever-increasing premiums, prescription drug prices nearly three times higher than in other countries, and some of the worst health outcomes in the world.For decades, politicians have promised to fix our healthcare system, but nothing fundamentally changes. Both parties take millions from pharmaceutical companies and insurance lobbyists while Americans drown in medical debt. If you send me to Washington, I will take on companies that exploit patients and build a healthcare system that works for the people.I believe that the best way to guarantee high-quality healthcare for all Americans is with a Medicare for All system. Medicare for All would provide Americans with high-quality healthcare without monthly premiums or deductibles. I will also make sure that any Medicare for All plan covers hearing, dental, vision, in-home care, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. Multiple studies have shown that America would actually spend far less on healthcare each year with Medicare for All than under our existing system.I will also stand up to prescription drug companies that price gouge consumers. Drug companies relentlessly hike up prices for prescriptions and use that money to reward their wealthy shareholders. I will fight back against corporate price gouging by supporting legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate prices for all drugs. Furthermore, I will propose legislation creating a new public corporation that manufactures common generic prescription drugs and sells them to the American people at cost — no more insane markups for lifesaving drugs.Healthcare is a human right, and it's time to deliver healthcare that works for all Americans.Paid Parental LeaveThe United States is the only developed country in the world that does not guarantee paid parental leave. It is absurd that, in the richest country in the world, we force parents to choose between spending time with their child or uprooting their careers.I am forever grateful for the time I was able to spend with my family after my daughter was born, and I want every family in America to have the same opportunity without worrying about how they will pay their bills. That is why I support legislation guaranteeing 24 weeks of paid parental leave for every family in America. Studies have consistently shown that paid family leave improves the health of new parents and babies, reduces the gender wage gap by allowing new mothers to stay in their careers, and actually makes workers more productive. It is time for the United States to catch up to the rest of the world and guarantee paid parental leave.Tuition-Free Public Universities and Trade SchoolsNo one should go into tens of thousands of dollars of debt to get an education. Yet every year, we force millions of Americans to choose between crushing debt or not going to college. A child born today who attends a four-year public college in 18 years can expect to pay $150-200K for their education. This system makes no sense and is unsustainable. Exorbitant student loans prevent so many San Franciscans from pursuing their dreams or simply making ends meet. An education in this country should not come at such a high cost. We should be encouraging people to pursue higher education, not making it harder.The solution is simple: we need tuition-free public universities and trade schools. California offered free tuition at public universities until the late 1970s, and many countries around the world still do today. This is an investment in our economy and our future — when people can pursue education without crushing debt, everyone benefits. In Congress, I'll support the College for All Act to make public colleges, community colleges, and trade schools tuition-free. I'll also fight to expand Pell grants and work-study programs so students can afford housing, books, and living expenses while in school.Stop Corporations from Ripping You OffAmericans are nickel and dimed every day, from bank and airline junk fees to fine print that blocks you from suing lawbreaking companies. These are more than just inconveniences; they cost families real money. For decades, the federal agencies that Congress set up to protect consumers have been starved of resources, with corporate donors lobbying to let banks and Big Tech off the hook for wrongdoing. And now, with Trump back in charge, those corporate interests have more power than ever, and when the next crisis hits, the same politicians who cut our government watchdogs will complain that the government failed to act.As your congressman, I will work tirelessly to make the government work for consumers again. I’ll fight against predatory financial practices like bank overdraft fees, late fees, and exorbitant credit card interest rates. I pledge to support the Public Banking Act and Postal Banking Act to expand affordable credit to low-income households. And when you shop, the price you see should be the price you pay at checkout— that is why I will fight for legislation banning hidden fees.I will also fight to restore and protect your fundamental consumer rights. I will fight to guarantee a right to repair so consumers can repair their own products. I will also work to pass the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (FAIR Act) to restore your right to sue companies that break the law and the Workforce Mobility Act to ban non-compete clauses that trap workers in their jobs. Finally, I will make sure Congress properly funds and empowers our government watchdogs, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission, so they can effectively police corporate abuse and break up monopolies across all sectors of our economy.Build the High Speed RailIn 2008, California voters approved a bullet train connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours. Construction is underway — but Trump just pulled $4 billion in federal funding as political retribution against our state. Republicans in Congress then quietly made the project permanently ineligible for future federal support.This is sabotage, not policy. The federal government has always been a partner in building major infrastructure. California has already committed $1 billion a year through 2045. What we need is a Congress that honors its commitments.In Congress, I will:Introduce legislation to restore the $4 billion in federal grants and repeal the defunding provisionFight for full federal investment to complete the line from San Francisco's Transbay Terminal to downtown LAChampion a national high speed rail strategyEnsure every rail dollar comes with strong union wage and labor protectionsThis is about more than one rail line. This is about whether we, as a nation, can still do big things. We must use this project as a way to build up the capacity to then keep going – to build more rail faster and cheaper.Seventy miles of guideway are already built. Dozens of major structures are complete. Abandoning it now would be one of the most wasteful infrastructure decisions in American history. We need to finish what California started.Preventing Housing DisplacementAs we build new housing to end the housing crisis, we also need to protect our neighbors who are already here. I know that for many long-time residents, new development can feel threatening. When you're already struggling to pay rent, it's natural to worry about being priced out as your neighborhood changes. While evidence shows that building more housing lowers prices over time, we need strong protections to ensure no one gets displaced along the way. That is why I have a comprehensive plan to protect affordable housing and prevent displacement in San Francisco.In Congress, I'll fight for legislation that expands rental assistance programs for low-income renters at risk of eviction, introduces federal support for community land trusts that protect existing affordable housing, and increases access to housing vouchers. I'll also support making rent payments tax-deductible — just like mortgage payments are — to level the playing field between renters and homeowners. And I will use my position in Congress to go after corporate landlords that engage in price-fixing and predatory speculation. Housing should be for people to live in, not for big corporations to gamble with.With the right protections in place, we can build more housing while keeping our communities stable and intact.Expand FreedomStop Trump's Authoritarian CoupMake no mistake: Trump is attempting an authoritarian coup. He is doing it by taking a wrecking ball to our government and other public institutions. He’s going after law firms and universities to take more and more control over our civil society. He’s creating a vigilante police force of masked agents in unmarked vans who pick up our neighbors off the streets and disappear them into far off detention centers. And we already know he and the Republicans in Congress will dispute the results of any election where they don’t win.In my first term in Congress, I would be lying to you if I said I could get all the big ideas in this platform done with Trump still President. My main job in that first term is going to be to protect San Franciscans from Trump’s attacks and make sure Trump does not destroy our democracy.To protect San Franciscans, I will build the best constituent services office in the country. Most people don’t know this, but your Congressperson is supposed to be your chief advocate when you have a complaint with the federal government. That means if you don’t get a social security check, or your spouse is picked up by ICE, you should be able to go to your Congressperson’s constituent services office and ask for help. And here’s the thing: it really works. As Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, I helped build her constituent services office in New York. At the time, Trump was in power and waging a war on immigrants – and AOC’s district was the most immigrant-heavy district in the country. I was amazed at how a simple phone call from her office could unblock a blocked citizenship application or stop a deportation in progress. It showed me just how powerful a congressional office can be when it fights for its constituents, and I am very proud of the work we did there.To stop Trump's attacks on our civil institutions, I will treat my job as more than a legislator – I plan to be an organizer. I will actively organize law firms and universities under attack from Trump to get them to oppose Trump as collective blocs. It’s easy for Trump to go after one law firm at a time – but if they collectively oppose him, they have the power. It’s difficult for any single law firm to organize this, but a legislator could.I will also fight to ensure we have fair and free elections in 2028. Republicans have actively been taking over county election boards – the bodies that count and certify elections – and filling them with election deniers. I will act to reverse this and to call it out where it’s happening. I will do everything in my power to make sure it is impossible for Republicans to steal an election by denying the results in 2028.Create Real Public SafetySan Franciscans deserve clean streets, safe neighborhoods, and a justice system that treats everyone with dignity. While we've made real progress, too many residents still feel unsafe walking to work, riding Muni, or spending time in our parks. The conversation around crime is often reduced to a false choice: return to the failed "tough on crime" policies of the 1990s or ignore the real challenges people face every day. I reject this binary. Our problems are complex, and they demand solutions that are thoughtful, effective, and rooted in our shared values.We deserve a public safety plan that is holistic and accountable to communities. It must invest in alternative responders like mental health specialists, addiction counselors, and social workers who can de-escalate crises and connect people to help. I'll work to ensure every federal public safety grant includes funding for these kinds of responses. At the same time, San Francisco is short more than 500 police officers — a gap that strains our system and drives up costs. In Congress, I'll support rebuilding a well-trained police force that builds collective trust with communities. I'll fight to demilitarize local departments, reform qualified immunity, and require body cameras for any agency receiving federal funds.Fully Fund Public SchoolsEveryday, I hear from parents in our city who are worried about their children's education — and for good reason. Reading and math scores are at their lowest level in over 20 years; less than half of 3rd graders in California read at grade level; and while our teachers are doing everything they can to help, they are grossly underpaid. Here in San Francisco, our public school system is facing a $110 million budget shortfall and may be forced to close schools. Parents and educators know this is an emergency, so why aren't our leaders in Congress acting like it?In Congress, I'll fight for every child's right to a high-quality public education. That starts with doubling federal funding for Title I schools (including 17 here in San Francisco). I attended a Title 1 middle school and high school, and I know how crucial these funds are for low-income students. I will also fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for the first time, push for a Green New Deal for Public Schools to rebuild crumbling infrastructure, and for new federal grants for tutoring, after-school programs, summer learning, and universal free school meals.Every teacher who teaches in San Francisco deserves to live in San Francisco, but the cost of living in this city is currently driving teachers out. That's why I will support legislation to cancel student debt for school staff after five years of service, establish a national minimum teacher salary of $60,000 with annual cost-of-living raises, and provide much-needed rental and mortgage assistance to school employees.And finally, I will defend academic freedom. I'll oppose politically motivated book bans and work to repeal laws like AB 715 that censor how schools teach about Israel, Palestine, and the broader conflict. Our students and teachers deserve honesty, not censorship.View my K-12 education white paperEnshrine Reproductive RightsReproductive freedom is under attack across our country. In over 20 states, Republicans have passed extreme abortion bans, threatened access to birth control, and even jailed doctors. They won't stop there. Although we are lucky to live in a state that protects reproductive freedom, Trump’s Project 2025 made clear that the goal is a national abortion ban. We need leaders who are capable of fighting back against MAGA’s extreme anti-choice agenda.Democrats in Congress had nearly 50 years to codify Roe v. Wade into law to protect reproductive freedom, but they never did. For too long, Democratic leadership relied solely on the Supreme Court to protect our fundamental civil rights. When Republicans captured the courts, they had no line of defense. The Democratic establishment’s failure to secure our fundamental rights left us all vulnerable to attack.I will not make that mistake. I won't stand by while Republicans undermine basic human rights. It is every person's right to make decisions about their body and to choose if and when to have children. Those decisions certainly shouldn't be made by Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, or any other politician. In Congress, I promise to be a fierce defender of reproductive rights by:Codifying the rights given to women in Roe vs. Wade into law by passing the Women's Health Protection Act.Codifying the right to contraception introduced in Griswold Vs. Connecticut by passing the Right to Contraception Act.Allowing publicly funded insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare, to pay for abortions by repealing the Hyde Amendment.Expanding Title X funding to ensure that low-income Americans have access to contraceptives and reproductive healthcare services.Repealing the Comstock Act, an obscure law from the 1870s that many Republicans want to use to institute a national abortion ban.End the WarsWe need to stop bombing and sanctioning countries every chance we get. We’ve destroyed our standing with the world and our unhinged foreign policy is leading us to ruin. We need to have a complete change in our foreign policy to become one where we follow international law and do business with other countries instead of coercing them. We should be doing the modern day version of the Marshall Plan, except this time to help developing nations create their own clean, sustainable, and prosperous economies — that would be a win-win for the United States and the world.I’ve also been a vocal critic of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as well as the race to war with Iran. If e