Khanna Says He’s Weighing 2028 Run, Points to Generational Shift in Both Parties

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said on Friday that he is considering a run for president in 2028, telling MS NOW’s “The Weeknight” that the race would turn on “who has the best vision for the future” of the country.

Co-host Symone Sanders asked Khanna directly whether he was thinking about running. “Yes, I’m thinking about it,” Khanna said.

“Look, we had a election where we had fresh, new people, bold ideas come out,” Khanna said. “The one good news is 2028 is not going to be an electability election. It’s not going to be election pundits and nerds figuring out what candidate fits ChatGPT to win one swing district or one swing state. Because what we saw is people of all different ideologies in our party, of all different backgrounds, won. So, 2028 is going to be, who has the best vision for the future of this nation.”

Khanna said he believes there are “a lot of great candidates” within the Democratic Party who “have different ideas.”

“I think it’s going to be wonderful, cathartic for this country after three 80-year-old presidents, we’re finally going to get a new generation on both parties, offering a vision of how to move America forward. I’m excited about it.”

Khanna’s remarks come after organizers of a newly formed draft committee told NBC News they are laying groundwork for a potential Khanna campaign. The group, called “Run Ro,” is co-chaired by former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and progressive strategist Nomiki Konst. According to NBC News, the committee can raise money from donors and begin building support for a Khanna candidacy while he continues to weigh a bid.

The effort surfaced shortly after a midterm election that returned Democrats to power in both the House and Senate, with several prominent progressives among the winners. It also comes as the party’s left flank searches for a new standard-bearer to occupy the progressive lane Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) held during his 2016 and 2020 presidential runs.

Khanna first signaled openness to a presidential bid in August, telling Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” that he was “considering it.” At the time, he said: “I’m considering it, and I’ll tell you why, because I understand the future economy, and I see that it’s only working for a few, and I want it to work for people who I grew up with.”