Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) said Friday he is “considering” a run for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, while pushing back on the notion that a potential bid by fellow progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) would shape his decision.
In an appearance on Fox Business Network’s Morning with Maria, Khanna addressed questions about the party’s direction and his own national ambitions, telling host Lauren Simonetti that he is actively mulling a White House campaign.
“I’m considering it, and I’ll tell you why,” Khanna said. “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.”
Simonetti pressed the California Democrat on whether Ocasio-Cortez’s potential entry into the race would alter his calculus. Khanna dismissed the suggestion outright.
“I don’t think that has any bearing,” he said. “What matters is, do I have an economic vision that actually will have success?”
Khanna framed his potential candidacy around economic populism and technological fluency, positioning himself as a candidate who can translate the digital economy into broad-based prosperity.
“Look, I am so grateful to this country. It’s given my family everything, and I want to see the kids I grew up with, their families be able to succeed in a modern economy,” he said. “I understand A.I. I understand the future of the economy. It needs to work for every American.”
The remarks come as Democrats grapple with internal debates over the party’s message and electoral strategy ahead of the midterms and beyond. Khanna, a prominent progressive voice in the House, has been floated as a potential standard-bearer for a faction seeking to blend economic leftism with a tech-forward agenda.
Ocasio-Cortez, who has not formally declared a 2028 bid, has been widely mentioned as a possible candidate, and her own political operation has fueled speculation about a national campaign. But Khanna’s comments signal he does not view the New York congresswoman as a determining factor in his own plans.
Political observers note that a crowded Democratic primary could emerge, with multiple progressives and moderates eyeing the nomination. Khanna’s focus on artificial intelligence and the future of work could serve as a distinguishing theme in a field that may feature stark generational and ideological contrasts.
Khanna has long positioned himself as an advocate for workers in the tech economy, and his recent remarks double down on that identity. By emphasizing his understanding of A.I. and the changing nature of employment, he appears to be sketching the contours of a campaign message aimed at voters anxious about economic displacement.
Still, the congressman stopped short of a formal announcement, leaving room for further deliberation. His appearance on Fox Business, a network not typically aligned with progressive Democrats, may also reflect an effort to reach beyond the party’s base and appeal to a broader audience.
When Simonetti noted that Democrats seem “in disarray about the party’s direction,” Khanna did not dispute the characterization, instead pivoting to his own vision. That approach suggests he sees the intraparty struggle as an opening rather than an obstacle.
The 2028 cycle is still years away, but early positioning has already begun. Khanna’s willingness to engage publicly on a presidential run, even in a preliminary “considering” phase, underscores the fluidity of the Democratic field and the battle lines being drawn.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/14/dem-rep-khanna-considering-2028-presidential-run-says-aoc-decision-doesnt-have-any-bearing/