Rohit "Ro" Khanna was born September 13, 1976, in Philadelphia to Indian immigrant parents. He attended the University of Chicago and Yale Law School, later teaching economics at Stanford University and serving in the Obama administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Domestic Manufacturing.
In 2016, Khanna was elected to represent California’s 17th District in Silicon Valley, becoming one of the leading progressive voices on technology policy, economic modernization, and digital-era labor rights. He has championed antitrust reform, universal broadband, innovation policy, and green technology investment while emphasizing that technological growth must pair with strong worker protections and fair wages.
Khanna frequently advocates for a "progressive capitalism" — supporting entrepreneurship and innovation while pushing for digital privacy, reform of H-1B abuses, aggressive antitrust oversight of major tech firms, and a stronger safety net including Medicare for All. He has positioned himself as a progressive policy thinker willing to engage with both business leaders and labor organizations.
He is also known for his diplomacy-first foreign policy, often questioning military spending, supporting congressional war powers oversight, and advocating for human rights and peace-first diplomacy — particularly regarding Yemen, Kashmir, and U.S.–China relations.
Progressive
Achievements
- Served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing.
- Co-sponsored major legislation on digital privacy, antitrust reform, broadband expansion, and tech job access.
- Prominent advocate for ending U.S. support for the war in Yemen, helping lead bipartisan efforts to restrict unauthorized military engagements.
- Positioned as a key policy voice for progressive economic modernization and "green jobs of the future."
Controversies
- Criticized by some progressives for being too close to Silicon Valley donors and tech executives, raising questions about conflicts between tech oversight and fundraising.
- Faced scrutiny over his stance on data privacy and AI regulation, with critics claiming his approach is too industry-friendly.
- Received pushback from both establishment Democrats and conservatives for his foreign policy views, especially on U.S.–China relations and non-interventionism.
- Critics argue that his blend of progressive politics and pro-business tech engagement can sometimes send mixed signals to voters and activists.
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Inc | $185,752 | $185,752 | $0 |
| Apple Inc | $59,556 | $59,556 | $0 |
| Stanford University | $50,254 | $50,254 | $0 |
| JStreetPAC | $46,950 | $46,950 | $0 |
| Andreessen Horowitz | $40,600 | $40,600 | $0 |
Contributions reflect strong support from technology employees, academic institutions, and progressive political organizations.