Run Ro? After blue wave, a Khanna candidacy might not be farfetched

San Francisco Chronicle · Joe Garofoli · 2026-11-06 12:00 UTC

Allies of California congressman Ro Khanna launched “Run Ro,” which can raise money and begin building support for a potential presidential campaign.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, is a House member with little national name recognition outside of political cable TV shows and progressive circles. His fundraising is untested nationally. And he would be the longest of longshots in a 2028 presidential field that could include two dozen Democrats, including his fellow Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

But that didn’t stop two of Khanna’s allies, former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., and progressive strategist Nomiki Konst, from launching a group called “Run Ro,” which can raise money and begin building support for a potential presidential campaign. Khanna told NBC News, which first disclosed the formation of the group Thursday, that he would decide whether to run over the holidays.

Despite the obvious obstacles, the terrain might never be better for him. Khanna, more than his fellow Californians, proffers a message that dovetails best with the one voters sent Tuesday, absent his support of Proposition 40, the proposed tax on billionaires that is on track to lose.

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