Ro Khanna Lays Out Economic Vision as 2028 White House Speculation Grows

WASHINGTON — Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna, who has not ruled out a 2028 presidential campaign, says Democrats need a new national economic agenda centered on workers, reindustrialization and ensuring that artificial intelligence benefits communities beyond Silicon Valley.

Khanna stopped short of announcing a White House bid Sunday but presented what he called “economic patriotism” as a central vision for the country.

“For me, I’m most focused on a national economic vision for this country,” the California Democrat told NBC News.

Khanna represents Silicon Valley, home to some of the world’s largest technology companies and concentrations of wealth, but said the current economic system is failing many Americans.

“It’s working for a few billionaires in a few places. But it’s not working for people I grew up with,” he said.

Khanna argued that Democrats have lost support by failing to address the concerns of working-class communities and regions affected by industrial decline.

“The Democrats’ path back out of the wilderness is to have a clear national economic message,” he said. “We shafted too many communities that were de-industrialised. We left out the working class.”

Asked how he differed from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential progressive leader in 2028, Khanna praised her as “a phenomenal talent” and said the progressive movement would have many voices.

Rather than draw a direct contrast, he returned to his economic agenda, asking how the United States could ensure that AI benefits communities affected by deindustrialization rather than primarily enriching a small number of technology companies and billionaires.

Khanna said the main divide within the Democratic Party is not simply between progressives and moderates, arguing that Democrats broadly agree the economic system is not working for ordinary Americans but differ over how to address the problem.

He reiterated his support for Medicare for All, a tax on billionaires and an end to foreign wars. Khanna called Medicare for All “arguably the most important priority” and said the proposal deserved a vote in the House.

“The majority of the House Democrats are going to support it,” he said.

Khanna also proposed a “data centre bill of rights” that would give communities greater influence over where data centers are built.

“We can’t be putting data centres in residential communities. We can’t be putting data centres in farmland,” he said.

Khanna said the United States needs data centers to compete in artificial intelligence but argued that their locations and potential effects on electricity prices should be regulated.

The son of Indian immigrants, Khanna represents a California congressional district that includes parts of Silicon Valley. He has become a prominent Democratic voice on technology, economic policy and U.S. foreign affairs.

His comments come as possible Democratic contenders begin positioning themselves ahead of the party’s 2028 presidential nomination contest. (Source: IANS)