Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has endorsed three candidates challenging fellow California Democrats in the House, in what Axios describes as an aggressive move by a potential 2028 presidential contender.
Khanna made the announcement in a statement provided to Axios. He named Angela Gonzales-Torres, a former local elected official challenging Rep. Jimmy Gomez; Eric Jones, a venture capitalist running against Rep. Mike Thompson; and Mai Vang, a Sacramento City Council member challenging Rep. Doris Matsui.
"Today I'm endorsing three new generation leaders," Khanna said in his statement. He argued Gonzales-Torres "will join us in our fight against corruption, to stand up for survivors, and to lead with a moral vision." He described Jones, who he said he has known "for many years," as "a change agent." He said Vang "will call out the genocide in Gaza, be for taxing billionaires, and stand for Medicare for All and the working class."
While Khanna expressed "tremendous respect and admiration" for Thompson and praised Matsui's "incredible service," he argued the time has come to "pass the baton." He did not reference Gomez, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct.
The incumbents' campaigns cited support from local groups. A spokesperson for Gomez told Axios that local teachers, nurses, unions, and Planned Parenthood support Gomez, calling Khanna a “Silicon Valley politician.” Thomas Dowling, a spokesperson for Thompson, said Jones and his Silicon Valley supporters are trying to buy the seat. Matsui's campaign manager, Bill Wong, told Axios that local teachers, firefighters, nurses, and environmental organizations support Matsui for her “real results.”
The move is a reversal for Khanna, who had previously endorsed Thompson this cycle. The Thompson campaign had sent a text message to supporters reading "This is Ro Khanna. I endorsed Mike Thompson for CA-4." Khanna told Axios he decided it was "time for new blood" after wanting to endorse Gonzales-Torres and Vang.
The three races will be decided in a general election on November 3. Jones and Gonzales-Torres finished second in their primaries, while Vang narrowly finished ahead of Matsui. Polls show Jones leading Thompson and Gonzales-Torres effectively tied with Gomez. An anonymous senior House Democrat told Axios that party leaders "think she is gone" regarding Matsui's seat.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Rep. Khanna's endorsement of challengers against fellow incumbents represents an unusually direct confrontation with the Democratic Party establishment from within.
- The races provide a test of whether voters favor generational change and progressive policy positions over the experience and institutional support of longtime incumbents.
- Khanna's willingness to take such a risk as a potential 2028 presidential candidate offers an early signal of how he might position himself in a primary.
Background
The California seats held by Thompson, Matsui, and Gomez are considered safely Democratic. Because of California's jungle primary system, the top two finishers from the June primary, both Democrats in these cases, advanced to the November 3 general election. Khanna is a progressive House member who has backed members of the "Bloc" who, Axios reports, have refused to commit to voting for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as speaker.
Key Perspectives
Rep. Ro Khanna: Says the party needs "a new politics" and "a new party," arguing it is "time for new blood" and bolder progressives.
Gomez campaign: Calls Khanna a "Silicon Valley politician" and says local teachers, nurses, unions, and Planned Parenthood support Jimmy Gomez.
Thompson campaign: Says Eric Jones and his "Silicon Valley supporters are trying to buy our congressional seat" and that Thompson's support comes from local residents.
Matsui campaign: Emphasizes that Doris Matsui delivers "real results" and that local teachers, firefighters, nurses, and environmental organizations are standing with her.
What to Watch
- Whether House Democratic leadership takes a public position on the races.
- The outcome of the House Ethics Committee investigation into Rep. Jimmy Gomez.
- The November 3 general election results in the three California districts.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedKhanna endorsed challengers running against three fellow California Democrats.Axios: “Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is endorsing a trio of insurgent Democratic candidates who are challenging his fellow California House Democrats”
- SupportedKhanna’s endorsements are an aggressive move by a potential 2028 presidential contender who presents himself as willing to confront the party establishment.Axios: “This is an aggressive move by a potential 2028 presidential contender who styles himself as one of the few Democrats willing to get into direct confrontations with the party establishment.”
- SupportedKhanna said Gonzales-Torres would fight corruption, stand up for survivors and lead with a moral vision.Axios: ““will join us in our fight against corruption, to stand up for survivors, and to lead with a moral vision,” Khanna said.”
- SupportedKhanna said he had known Jones “for many years” and called him “a change agent.”Axios: “Khanna said he has known Jones — a venture capitalist running against Rep. Mike Thompson — “for many years,” calling him “a change agent who understands the working class and building a better life for those left out.””
- SupportedKhanna said Vang would call out the genocide in Gaza, support taxing billionaires and stand for Medicare for All and the working class.Axios: “Vang, a Sacramento City Council member running against Rep. Doris Matsui, “will call out the genocide in Gaza, be for taxing billionaires, and stand for Medicare for All and the working class,” Khanna said.”
- SupportedKhanna did not reference Gomez, who was under House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct.Axios: “Khanna did not reference Gomez, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct.”
- SupportedA spokesperson for Gomez’s campaign said local teachers, nurses, unions and Planned Parenthood support Gomez, and called Khanna a “Silicon Valley politician.”Axios: ““Instead of some Silicon Valley politician, the people of Los Angeles care a lot more about what Planned Parenthood thinks, what local teachers, nurses, and unions think – and they all support Jimmy Gomez.””
- SupportedThompson spokesperson Thomas Dowling said Jones and his Silicon Valley supporters were trying to buy the seat.Axios: “Said Thomas Dowling, a spokesperson for Thompson: “San Francisco venture capitalist Eric Jones and his Silicon Valley supporters are trying to buy our congressional seat, but it's not for sale.””
- Partly supportedMatsui campaign manager Bill Wong said local teachers, firefighters, nurses and environmental organizations supported Matsui for her “real results.”Axios: ““That's why the local teachers, firefighters, nurses, and women's and environmental organizations who see those results up close are standing with her.””
- SupportedKhanna had previously endorsed Thompson this cycle, and the Thompson campaign sent supporters a text saying, “This is Ro Khanna. I endorsed Mike Thompson for CA-4.”Axios: “Khanna previously endorsed Thompson this cycle, which the latter congressman touted on social media as recently as May. The Thompson campaign even sent out a text to supporters, the content of which was shared with Axios, that reads: “This is Ro Khanna. I endorsed Mike Thompson for CA-4.””
- SupportedKhanna said he decided it was “time for new blood” after wanting to endorse Gonzales-Torres and Vang.Axios: “Khanna told Axios: “I wanted to endorse [Gonzales]-Torres and then Mai Vang ... and I just thought, 'it's time for new blood,' and wanted to endorse Eric Jones.””
- SupportedJones and Gonzales-Torres finished second in their primaries, Vang narrowly finished ahead of Matsui, and polls showed Jones leading Thompson and Gonzales-Torres essentially tied with Gomez.Axios: “Jones and Gonzales-Torres both finished second in their respective primaries, while Vang narrowly came out ahead of Matsui. Polls have shown Jones leading Thompson and Gonzales-Torres essentially tied with Gomez.”