Ro Khanna

“It is simply chilling that they are targeting political opponents this way, and it is disturbing that they are targeting Muslim Americans and a Muslim American legislator. Any decent American needs to stand up and speak out.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-10-12 · reported 2026-10-12

Ro Khanna condemned the search of Omar's home, calling it chilling and disturbing.

“I believe there's nothing more important than being there for kids at a young age, and I have an extraordinary wife who's an exceptional mom,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna described how his experience as a father of two children while working a demanding job has informed his perspective.

“Why would you think that giving entrusting the care of young people at their most impressionable, where their experience is going to shape the rest of their lives, and we have data showing that? Why would we think that that's cheap?”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna defended the high cost of his childcare proposal by emphasizing the importance of early childhood care.

“Even if they don't do the whole $90 billion, I mean, obviously that's my hope that the House should pass this bill, they can take three elements of it.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna said he hopes the House passes his bill even if only in part.

“It should be value neutral between staying at home, going to a childcare center, or having friends or family, and that is maximizing the choice,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna said families should be able to choose from a menu of childcare options.

“Whether I run, which obviously I'm considering, or whether I am actively supporting other candidates, I want to be leading in putting forth bold ideas about what that Democratic Party should be,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna discussed whether he will run in 2028 or support other candidates.

“Childcare is one of those things that didn't have the same exorbitant cost, and if we can fix that issue, provide people with childcare, you’re going to give more Americans the shot to have economic security in a modern economy, and that’s the whole point of economic patriotism: that people should be able to have economic independence in today's economy,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna explained how his middle-class upbringing in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, motivated him to tackle childcare costs.

“It has given me an admiration for parents who do incredibly, incredibly hard work, and my view is that we've got to make it possible for parents who want to give their kids the best ability to do that.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna expressed admiration for parents doing hard work and the need to make it possible for parents to give their kids the best.

“I want it to be a contest on who's going to have ideas of the future that meet the moment where many Americans feel that the economic and political system are broken and not working for them.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna described his vision for the 2028 primary as a contest of ideas for the future.

“As I traveled around the country, and I started with like, 'How do we bring good jobs?' I kept hearing, 'Well, that's fine, but how am I going to take care of our kids and do these jobs?'”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna recounted conversations with families in swing states that informed his agenda.

“If you want to do this right, it's going to be an $80 to $90 billion price tag,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna discussed the estimated cost of making childcare free under his proposal.

“Economic patriotism is all about making the future economy work -- not just for the billionaires in my district, but work for the people I grew up with in Pennsylvania,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna described economic patriotism as making the future economy work for working-class people, not just billionaires.

“What this childcare proposal -- in my view -- is speaking to [is] the needs of working class families, and it's something we can deliver,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna described how his childcare proposal addresses the needs of working class families.

“Of course, it's expensive, and that's why there's this huge market failure because it's expensive, and yet people aren't being paid appropriately, and that's why it's a public good. And so this is really saying, OK, if you want to do this right, it's going to be a $80 to $90 billion price tag. That's what it takes to make childcare free.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna argued childcare is a public good and defended the $80 to $90 billion annual price tag of his proposal.

“The biggest thing killing us is childcare,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna told ABC News in a phone interview while campaigning for progressive candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

“I want 2028 to be a big-ideas primary,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna spoke about his political ambitions ahead of the 2028 presidential race.

“I think we need to offer a new vision of ideas that are actually going to deliver for working- and middle-class families who have been left out.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna said Democrats need to offer a new vision to deliver for working- and middle-class families.

“I want it to be front and center in the conversation of the first 100 days for the speaker,”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna said he wants childcare to be front and center in the first 100 days if Democrats take back the House majority.

“That's what it takes to make childcare free. That's what it takes to pay people well, and that's what it's going to take to make it flexible.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna explained the price tag needed to make childcare free, pay workers well, and provide flexibility.

“Vance's proposal is trying to tip the scales a bit on the choice of people who are stay-at-home parents.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna contrasted his plan with Vice President JD Vance's proposal to expand childcare subsidies for stay-at-home parents.

“what we should be passing.”

Ro Khanna · said 2026-09-25 · reported 2026-09-25

Khanna said he wanted to introduce a childcare bill before the midterm elections as a north star and blueprint.

“Trump has failed to deliver for the forgotten American, so he's just grasping at straws,”

Ro Khanna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-15

Khanna dismissed Trump's comments that communities opposing data centers would fall behind.

“Congratulations Aisha Wahab on your decisive victory,”

Ro Khanna · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-22

Ro Khanna congratulated Aisha Wahab on her victory in the special election.

“I look forward to working with you on Medicare for All, a living wage, and ending the war in Iran.”

Ro Khanna · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-22

Ro Khanna stated policy priorities he looked forward to working on with Aisha Wahab.