Allies of Rep. Ro Khanna launch 'Run Ro' draft campaign for 2028 presidential bid

Allies of Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, are launching an effort to lay groundwork for him to run for president in 2028, the leaders of the new group told NBC News ¹. The group is called "Run Ro." It is a draft committee, meaning it can raise money and build support while Khanna decides whether to run ¹.

Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York and progressive strategist Nomiki Konst are the co-chairs ¹. The launch comes right after a midterm election that swept Democrats into power in the House and the Senate ¹.

What the organizers say

Konst said the early start is meant to shape the debate. "By launching now, we are trying to ensure that the presidential primary debate is framed from a progressive populist perspective," she said ¹.

By launching now, we are trying to ensure that the presidential primary debate is framed from a progressive populist perspective,

She also said centrists have an advantage. They "have their donors, corporate consultants and leaders lined up for years," Konst said ¹. The draft committee, she said, lets organizers start now so Khanna is not late if he runs ¹.

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Khanna's response

Khanna has not said he is running. He said he is honored that people are encouraging him to run on a platform of Medicare for All, ending foreign wars and taxing the billionaires ¹.

Whether I run or support someone else is something I will decide with my family after the holidays.

Khanna is in his fifth term and co-chaired Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign ¹. He has made headlines for bipartisan efforts to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and to end the war in Iran ¹. NBC reports he has been traveling to early primary states for months, and many of his House colleagues expect him to run ¹.

In an August NPR interview, Khanna said Democrats should nominate a more progressive candidate ². He said, "I don't apologize for ambition. The question is, is it ambition for a public purpose?" ²

The obstacles

NBC calls the challenges facing a Khanna candidacy "immense" ¹. Only one person has ever been elected president directly from the House: James Garfield, a Republican from Ohio, in 1880 ¹.

Khanna is also not the best-known House progressive weighing a run. That title belongs to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who has not said whether she will run for president, run for a New York Senate seat or stay in the House ¹. Bowman praised Khanna's "work ethic, the humility and the vision that we need in this moment" ¹.

What happens next

No candidate has yet entered the field for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination ¹. Khanna said he will decide with his family after the holidays ¹.

That matters because the party's left wing is looking for a new standard-bearer in the lane Sanders held in the 2016 and 2020 primaries ¹. This is analysis, but the early organizing suggests the 2028 contest over the party's direction is starting now, not after the new Congress is sworn in.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 1880James Garfield, R-Ohio, is elected president, the only person elected directly from the House ¹.
2. Aug 13, 2026Khanna tells NPR Democrats should nominate a more progressive candidate in 2028 ².
3. Nov 5, 2026Allies launch the 'Run Ro' draft committee, co-chaired by Jamaal Bowman and Nomiki Konst ¹.

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<h2>Allies of Rep. Ro Khanna launch &#39;Run Ro&#39; draft campaign for 2028 presidential bid</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/allies-of-rep-ro-khanna-launch-run-ro-draft-campaign-for-2028-presidential-bid">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>Allies of Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, are launching an effort to lay groundwork for him to run for president in 2028, the leaders of the new group told NBC News . The group is called &quot;Run Ro.&quot; It is a draft committee, meaning it can raise money and build support while Khanna decides whether to run .</p> <p>Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York and progressive strategist Nomiki Konst are the co-chairs . The launch comes right after a midterm election that swept Democrats into power in the House and the Senate .</p> <h2>What the organizers say</h2> <p>Konst said the early start is meant to shape the debate. &quot;By launching now, we are trying to ensure that the presidential primary debate is framed from a progressive populist perspective,&quot; she said .</p> <blockquote><p>By launching now, we are trying to ensure that the presidential primary debate is framed from a progressive populist perspective,</p><p>&mdash; Nomiki Konst, progressive strategist and co-chair of Run Ro</p></blockquote> <p>She also said centrists have an advantage. They &quot;have their donors, corporate consultants and leaders lined up for years,&quot; Konst said . The draft committee, she said, lets organizers start now so Khanna is not late if he runs .</p> <h2>Khanna&#39;s response</h2> <p>Khanna has not said he is running. He said he is honored that people are encouraging him to run on a platform of Medicare for All, ending foreign wars and taxing the billionaires .</p> <blockquote><p>Whether I run or support someone else is something I will decide with my family after the holidays.</p><p>&mdash; Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative, Democrat-California</p></blockquote> <p>Khanna is in his fifth term and co-chaired Sen. Bernie Sanders&#39; 2020 campaign . He has made headlines for bipartisan efforts to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and to end the war in Iran . NBC reports he has been traveling to early primary states for months, and many of his House colleagues expect him to run .</p> <p>In an August NPR interview, Khanna said Democrats should nominate a more progressive candidate . He said, &quot;I don&#39;t apologize for ambition. The question is, is it ambition for a public purpose?&quot;</p> <h2>The obstacles</h2> <p>NBC calls the challenges facing a Khanna candidacy &quot;immense&quot; . Only one person has ever been elected president directly from the House: James Garfield, a Republican from Ohio, in 1880 .</p> <p>Khanna is also not the best-known House progressive weighing a run. That title belongs to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who has not said whether she will run for president, run for a New York Senate seat or stay in the House . Bowman praised Khanna&#39;s &quot;work ethic, the humility and the vision that we need in this moment&quot; .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>No candidate has yet entered the field for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination . Khanna said he will decide with his family after the holidays .</p> <p>That matters because the party&#39;s left wing is looking for a new standard-bearer in the lane Sanders held in the 2016 and 2020 primaries . This is analysis, but the early organizing suggests the 2028 contest over the party&#39;s direction is starting now, not after the new Congress is sworn in.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/allies-of-rep-ro-khanna-launch-run-ro-draft-campaign-for-2028-presidential-bid">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/allies-of-rep-ro-khanna-launch-run-ro-draft-campaign-for-2028-presidential-bid.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. NBC News, “Rep. Ro Khanna allies launch a draft campaign for the 2028 presidential race” (2026-11-05). nbcnews.com/politics/2028-election/rep-ro-khanna-allies-laun
2. NPR (via WLRN), “Rep. Ro Khanna shares why he thinks Democrats should nominate a progressive in 2028” (2026-08-13). wlrn.org/national-politics/2026-08-13/rep-ro-khanna-shares-w

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