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Saikat Chakrabarti’s poll numbers surge after first debate
Chakrabarti has argued that he is not just contesting for the congressional seat but also for change in Democratic leadership.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Tue, 14, Apr 2026
- 03:09 EDT
- 27
Saikat Chakrabarti / Wikimedia commons
Within weeks of the three Democratic congressional candidates, including Indian-origin Saikat Chakrabarti, locking horns in the hour-long first debate ahead of the Democratic primaries, congressional hopeful Chakrabarti has made significant inroads into the decisive lead long held by poll leader Scott Wiener, as per InteractivePolls.
In January this year, Wiener led with 37 percent vote share, Connie Chan had 17 percent, and Chakrabarti came in behind both with just 16 percent.
In a major turn of tides, in the April polls, Chakrabarti significantly ate into Wiener’s vote share and reached 28 percent, compared to Wiener’s 33 percent. Chan fell further behind with just 13 percent.
Chakrabarti’s deficit went from a whopping 21 percent to an attainable 5 percent.
ALSO READ: Justice Democrats backs Saikat Chakrabarti for Congress
Tides, however, could shift at any moment in any direction, with months of campaigning and more debates lined up ahead of the June primary.
Reacting to the gains he made as per the poll prediction, he said on X, “In just a few months, we’ve closed the gap from 21 points to 5 points in the polls. We can end political corruption.”
He continued, “We can control AI so it works for humanity, not the oligarchs. We can have Medicare for All and lower the cost of living.”
In just a few months, we've closed the gap from 21 points to 5 points in the polls. We can end political corruption. We can control AI so it works for humanity, not the oligarchs. We can have Medicare-for-all and lower the cost of living.
— Saikat Chakrabarti for Congress (@saikatc) April 13, 2026
But to do any of that, we have to… pic.twitter.com/CBNm7T5epG
Chakrabarti also argued that he is not just contesting for the seat now left unfilled by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi but also for change in Democratic leadership.
He said, “We have to change the leadership and direction of the Democratic Party, and our campaign is the only one willing to speak that truth. San Franciscans agree, and that’s why we’re surging.”
Chakrabarti, the former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is campaigning on a platform that includes new Democratic leadership, opposition to current immigration enforcement practices, and rejecting corporate and lobbyist funding.
Chakrabarti, who was born to Indian Bengali parents in Texas, is a progressive and vocal advocate for structural reforms within the Democratic Party.
The Harvard-educated software engineer and political strategist rose to prominence during the 2016 presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, where he played a key role in organizing grassroots technology efforts.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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