Rep. Khanna: I’d Vote For Kamala Harris Over Gavin Newsom, “I’ve Always Found Her Deeply Authentic”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) told SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith that he would support former Vice President Kamala Harris over Gov. Gavin Newsom in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, calling Harris “deeply authentic” and someone who understands the Democratic Party’s broad coalition.
STEPHEN A. SMITH, HOST: Would you run against Gavin Newsom, if it came to that? REP. RO KHANNA: I think there would be plenty of people who run against Gavin Newsom. But certainly if Gavin enters, it would have no impact on my decision to run. We just have a very different temperament and vision of what the country needs. STEPHEN A. SMITH, HOST: Former Vice President of the United States, former Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, recently announced that she wouldn’t be running for the governor’s seat in California, and there’s no indication that she’ll run for the presidency again. Do you think she should or shouldn’t? REP. RO KHANNA: That’s totally up to her. Stephen A., this is harder than “Meet the Press.” STEPHEN A. SMITH, HOST: I’m just asking. I’m just asking. REP. RO KHANNA: Look, I’ve always respected Vice President Harris. Partly, she’s a first Indian American, African American woman. When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, if you told me an African American, Indian American woman would get 48% of the vote, I would’ve said, you’re crazy. So she’s broken a lot of barriers. I think that she’s underestimated as a political leader. I’d vote for her over Gavin Newsom. I’d put that – make some news – but it’s up to her what she wants to do with the rest of her career and how she wants to serve. STEPHEN A. SMITH, HOST: I wasn’t going to go there, but since you brought it up, why would you vote for her ahead of Gavin Newsom? Could you clarify that? Why? REP. RO KHANNA: I think that she understands the broad coalition in our party. I think she speaks to, understands that she wasn’t handed anything in life. She had to struggle. She was a daughter of immigrants. I’ve always found her deeply authentic. I mean, I know people say, Oh, word salad this. In my interactions with Vice President Harris, even where I’ve disagreed, I found that she’s someone who’s coming at something from a place of conviction. STEPHEN A. SMITH, HOST: I recently saw Representative Eric Swalwell announce that he’s going to be running for the gubernatorial seat, governor’s seat in California. A, what do you think about that? And B, why aren’t you considering a run for the gubernatorial seat of California, considering that you represent the 17th district? You’re incredibly familiar with California, and you know what Californians need and want, and you probably could get the job done. Why him and not you? And what do you think about him running? REP. RO KHANNA: I like Eric. I’m supporting Tom Steyer, but I also think Eric would do a great, great job. We’ve known each other for a decade. He is someone who’s a prosecutor who understands the public safety issues. He understands the homelessness issues. I think he’d be a strong candidate. I supported Tom Steyer largely because Steyer has a plan on PG&E and holding PG&E accountable, to bring down utility prices in California. And he also said he’s not going to take any corporate money in Sacramento. Sacramento is a crazy place. I’ve never served there. I don’t think that that’s the right fit for me, and my focus has largely been on federal issues and international issues. And I love the job I have. I mean, I represent such an incredible place in the world that both needs to be regulated, but also is contributing. So, that just was not the right fit.
