Khanna, Ro

Rohit Khanna represents California's 17th congressional district and serves as Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Subcommittee, as well as Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China. As the minority party's lead voice on these panels, he shapes the committee's investigative priorities, questions witnesses, and develops alternative legislation on digital security, emerging technologies, and U.S.-China competition. His role carries significant influence over how Congress addresses cybersecurity threats, artificial intelligence governance, and technology sector oversight.

Khanna brings substantial expertise to these technology-focused committees. He worked as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce under President Obama from 2009 to 2011, where he led international trade missions and focused on increasing U.S. exports. He later practiced intellectual property law at a Silicon Valley firm and has taught economics at Stanford University and law at Santa Clara University and San Francisco State University. His 2012 book, Entrepreneurial Nation, examined American competitiveness in manufacturing and business. He founded and co-chairs the Congressional Antitrust Caucus, advocating for stricter antitrust scrutiny of dominant technology firms.

As Ranking Member, Khanna has positioned himself as a leading Democratic voice on technology policy and national security. He also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and its Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, broadening his influence over defense and security matters. His legislative agenda has included bills on artificial intelligence standards, windfall profits taxes, and various economic and regulatory matters.

Khanna represents a progressive economic perspective, describing himself as a "progressive capitalist" and championing an "abundance agenda." He co-chaired Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign and has maintained strong support from Silicon Valley's venture capital and technology sectors since his 2016 election victory over eight-term incumbent Mike Honda. He has been mentioned in national reporting as a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.