Challenges Faced by Ro Khanna: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Ro Khanna. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Ro Khanna is a U.S. Representative for California's 17th district, serving since 2017. A Democrat, he unseated Mike Honda in 2016. Before Congress, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Commerce under President Obama from 2009 to 2011. Khanna is known for his progressive views and has endorsed Bernie Sanders for president in 2016 and co-chaired Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

2000: Exxon Climate Change Denial

As late as 2000, Exxon advertised in The New York Times that "scientists have been unable to confirm" that burning fossil fuels causes climate change.

2004: Khanna Runs Anti-Iraq War Campaign for U.S. House

In 2004, Ro Khanna ran one of the nation's first anti-Iraq war campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, unsuccessfully challenging Tom Lantos in the Democratic primary in California's 12th congressional district.

March 28, 2014: Court Rules Khanna Had No Connection with Candidate Recruitment Incident

On March 28, 2014, the Sacramento County Superior Court ruled that Ro Khanna had no connection with an incident involving the alleged recruitment of candidates with similar names to split the Republican vote.

November 4, 2014: Honda Defeats Khanna in Congressional Election

On November 4, 2014, incumbent congressman Mike Honda defeated Ro Khanna in the election, with Honda receiving 69,561 votes (51.8%) to Khanna's 64,847 votes (48.2%).

2014: First Congressional Campaign and Job at Smart Utility Systems

In 2014, Khanna left Wilson Sonsini for his first campaign for California's 17th congressional district seat. After losing the general election to Mike Honda, Khanna took a job as vice president of strategic initiatives at Smart Utility Systems.

2014: First Run for Congress

In 2014, Ro Khanna first ran for California's 17th congressional district seat.

June 1, 2017: Op-ed Against Military Intervention

On June 1, 2017, Ro Khanna co-authored an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times with Senator Rand Paul, arguing against military interventions when US security is not at risk.

2018: Trump's proposed budget

In May 2017, Trump's proposed 2018 budget zeroed out its funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission and Manufacturing Externship Partnership.

2019: Letter to Trump on Congressional Authorization of Force

In 2019, Ro Khanna and Rand Paul led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in signing a letter to Trump asserting that it is "long past time to rein in the use of force that goes beyond congressional authorization."

2019: Pledge to Reclaim Congressional Authority on Foreign Policy

In 2019, Ro Khanna was one of eight lawmakers to sign a pledge stating their intent "to fight to reclaim Congress's constitutional authority to conduct oversight of U.S. foreign policy and independently debate whether to authorize each new use of military force" and to bring "the Forever War to a responsible and expedient conclusion" after 17 years of U.S. military conflict.

October 28, 2021: "Big Oil hearing"

On October 28, 2021, as chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, Khanna presided over the "Big Oil hearing", investigating ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP for spreading disinformation about climate change.

2022: Essay on Trade Liberalization with China

In 2022, Ro Khanna argued in an essay for Foreign Affairs that trade liberalization with China after the granting of permanent normal trade relations and China's entry into the World Trade Organization accelerated U.S. deindustrialization. He called for "economic patriotism" centered on expanding domestic production, targeted tariffs, export promotion, and industrial policy.

April 2025: Criticism of Blanket Tariffs on Electronics

In April 2025, Ro Khanna criticized across-the-board tariffs, stating that blanket tariffs on electronics would raise prices for consumers and shift production to countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam, rather than returning manufacturing to the United States. He added that tariffs could be useful only as part of a broader industrial policy.

September 2025: Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Exempt Coffee from Tariffs

In September 2025, Ro Khanna and Republican representative Don Bacon introduced bipartisan legislation to exempt coffee from tariffs imposed after January 19, 2025. They argued that the duties were increasing prices for American consumers on a product not produced domestically at scale.

March 2026: Rejection of War Powers Resolution

In March 2026, the House rejected the bipartisan War Powers Resolution, which Ro Khanna and Representative Thomas Massie pressed for after U.S. strikes on Iran.