Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna Faces Growing Calls to Run for President in 2028

WASHINGTON–Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna is emerging as a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination after a group of progressive allies launched a campaign encouraging the California lawmaker to enter the race.

The initiative, called “Run Ro,” is being led by former Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman of New York and progressive political strategist Nomiki Konst. The effort aims to raise money, organize grassroots support and build momentum for a possible Khanna presidential campaign.

Khanna, who represents California’s 17th Congressional District in Silicon Valley, has not announced a presidential bid and is not directly involved in the initiative, according to Politico.

The congressman said he would discuss his political future with his family before deciding whether to seek the Democratic nomination or support another candidate.

“Whether I run or support someone else is something I will decide with my family after the holidays,” Khanna said in a statement to NBC News.

Khanna welcomed the encouragement from supporters and outlined several progressive priorities, including universal healthcare through Medicare for All, ending foreign wars and increasing taxes on billionaires.

The campaign’s launch Thursday came just two days after the U.S. midterm elections, as Democrats began looking ahead to the 2028 presidential contest.

Khanna has already visited states that hold early presidential nominating contests, fueling speculation about his national political ambitions.

In an interview with Politico on Wednesday, Khanna indicated that he expected to make a decision sometime during the holiday season. His subsequent comments to NBC News suggested that he would consult his family after the holidays, although he did not provide a specific timeline.

Konst told NBC News that the initiative was intended to ensure progressive economic policies receive attention early in the Democratic presidential debate.

She argued that progressive candidates need to begin organizing well ahead of the election to compete with more centrist Democrats who already have established fundraising operations and political networks.

Speaking separately with The Washington Post, Konst said she had known Khanna for more than a decade and pointed to his efforts to mobilize Democratic voters and support candidates during the 2026 midterm election cycle.

She also highlighted his positions on artificial intelligence, taxation of wealthy Americans and efforts to secure the release of government records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Konst, who previously worked on campaigns for former President Barack Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders, said Khanna’s political priorities reflected “the thing that Americans want right now”.

Although the draft campaign demonstrates growing interest in Khanna among some progressive activists, it remains unclear how much support he would attract in a competitive Democratic presidential primary.

Khanna has built a national profile through his advocacy for American manufacturing, technological innovation, economic reforms and expanded public services.

His representation of Silicon Valley has also placed him at the center of national debates over artificial intelligence, technology regulation and the relationship between major technology companies and the federal government.

Born in Philadelphia in 1976 to Indian immigrant parents, Khanna grew up in a family with strong connections to education, public service and India’s independence movement.

His father worked as a chemical engineer, while his mother was a substitute teacher’s assistant for children with special needs.

His grandfather, Amarnath Vidyalankar, participated in India’s struggle for independence and was imprisoned for opposing British colonial rule.

Khanna earned an economics degree from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Yale University.

Before entering Congress, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Obama administration.

He later served as a co-chair of Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, strengthening his ties to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Khanna lives in Fremont, California, with his wife, Ritu, and their two children.

While the “Run Ro” initiative could provide an early organizational foundation for a presidential campaign, Khanna’s decision on whether to enter the 2028 race remains pending. (Source: IANS)