Rep. Ro Khanna said Sunday that a potential 2028 presidential bid by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would not affect his own decision to seek the White House.
"It will have no bearing on my decision. Obviously, she's extraordinary. But my vision is an economic vision," Khanna said on CNN's "State of the Union."
Khanna pointed to the stark economic divide between his California district and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he grew up. One-third of the nation's wealth—$20 trillion—sits in his district. Five companies there each hold over a trillion dollars in value. Meanwhile, he said, "the economy of the future isn't working" for deindustrialized communities and the Black South.
He champions "economic patriotism," a platform he describes as a mission to rebuild the economy for left-behind regions.
Both Khanna and Ocasio-Cortez are among several Democrats being discussed as potential 2028 candidates. Progressive Democrats notched primary wins this year in New York and Colorado, signaling the wing's growing clout—though more moderate party figures have pushed back over democratic socialist ideas and Israel policy.
Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, another Democrat mentioned for 2028, dismissed the speculation weeks ago. "I have zero interest in running for president in 2028," Ossoff told "Morning Joe" host Jen Psaki.
