Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California has hinted at his interest in being part of the national political discourse in 2028, sparking speculation about a potential presidential run.
Khanna's remarks came during an interview on the news show "Rising," hosted by NewsNation contributor Chris Cillizza and Daily Caller Senior Editor Amber Duke.
According to the Daily Caller, when asked directly about his presidential aspirations for 2028, Khanna, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, responded, Im really focused, honestly, on the House and taking it back. But do I want to be part of the national conversation? Absolutely. He further cautioned against premature speculation about 2028, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present political landscape.
Khanna stated, But Ill tell you why it is a premature question, because right now anyone who wants to be considered to be in the national conversation for 2028 needs to show theyre focused on the moment. Politics is like tennis if you start thinking about how youre going to win the set, youre going to lose the point.
The California representative also outlined his vision for the Democratic Party's future, emphasizing the importance of securing a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, resisting what he termed as "unconstitutional actions of Trump," and supporting bipartisan initiatives that benefit the American people.
Khanna underscored the importance of listening to the voices of ordinary Americans, saying, And the final point, which is what my travels have been most helpful, is listening to people, listening in communities. We got to listen less to the sort of George Clooneys and Beyoncs and more to people in Lorraine and Johnstown and Milwaukee to build this party back.
The representative also took aim at Big Pharma, criticizing its influence on American democracy and its practice of charging Americans higher prices for medication. He stated, One of the problems is Big Pharmas influence in our democracy. $16 billion of lobbying money. Theyre ripping off Americans for higher profit while theyre providing medicine to other parts of the world at pennies on the dollar.
Khanna recently introduced legislation to codify President Donald Trumps executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. He said, Right now, were paying two to three times more for drugs than people in other industrialized nations. Now this executive order, codified by the legislation, will allow the cabinet secretaries to put pressure on Big Pharma and make sure that they are not price gouging and will allow for the importation of cheaper drugs.
Despite Khanna's political activities, including hosting rallies in competitive House districts, The Washington Post reported that he is not considered a top contender for the 2028 presidential race.
Khanna has been openly critical of key figures in his own party, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former President Joe Biden. He stated in a recent interview, Chuck Schumer has squandered any goodwill he had, and called the Democratic Party's support for Biden's reelection campaign a "mistake."
Reiterating his stance on Fox News, Khanna said, I dont think thats very difficult that Democrats should just be straight up that he should not have run, now that we know all of the facts. There should have been an open primary. I think to move on and move forward, its important to take accountability and be straightforward with the American people.
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