Ro Khanna backs three ‘new generation’ challengers against fellow House Democrats, including Mike Thompson and Doris Matsui

Top image: Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, who represents California’s 17th Congressional District. Photo: Anderseidesvik / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

By Mei-Lin Ostrander, Campaigns & Elections Reporter

Rep. Ro Khanna, the Fremont Democrat widely seen as a likely 2028 presidential contender, used the last week of the midterm campaign to make a generational argument inside his own party. On Friday, Oct. 30, he endorsed three Democrats who are challenging sitting Democratic House members in California, Axios reported.

“Today I’m endorsing three new generation leaders,” Khanna said. Axios described him as “a potential 2028 presidential contender.”

The three races

• In the 4th District, which includes Napa County, Khanna endorsed Eric Jones, 35, a venture capitalist, against Rep. Mike Thompson.
• In Sacramento’s 7th District, he endorsed Mai Vang, 41, a Sacramento city councilmember, against Rep. Doris Matsui, 82.
• In Los Angeles, he endorsed Angela Gonzales-Torres against Rep. Jimmy Gomez.

Under California’s top-two primary, all three races are Democrat-versus-Democrat contests on Tuesday. The Chronicle has tracked how the Bay Area delegation is taking sides in similar races.

‘Time to pass the baton’

Khanna was careful about the incumbents. He said he has “tremendous respect and admiration” for Thompson, “But voters are crying out for change.” Of Matsui, he said: “I respect Doris Matsui’s incredible service,” and added that it is “time to pass the baton.”

He tied the endorsements to his broader argument about the party. “I think we need a new politics in this country, and we need a new party,” Khanna told Axios. “I’ve always been a reformer and independent-minded.”

The move fits a pattern this fall. Khanna has campaigned with independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn in Omaha and taken a campus tour making the case for a new Democratic economic agenda.

The pushback

Thompson’s campaign responded sharply. “San Francisco venture capitalist Eric Jones and his Silicon Valley supporters are trying to buy our congressional seat, but it’s not for sale,” spokesperson Thomas Dowling said, according to Axios.

There is a complication. Khanna had earlier endorsed Thompson along with the rest of the delegation, and a Thompson campaign text told voters, “This is Ro Khanna. I endorsed Mike Thompson for CA-4,” Axios reported. Khanna said: “I had, with the delegation, endorsed him earlier, so it’s nothing against him.” He said his new endorsement was about a new generation. Axios reported that polls show Jones leading.

In Sacramento, Matsui’s campaign has pointed to Vang’s ties to the streamer Hasan Piker, Jewish Insider reported.

A stop in New York

The same day, Khanna met New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion. The meeting was closed to the press, Jewish Insider reported, in a story critical of the decision to keep reporters out.

The endorsements carry some risk, since he is backing challengers against two senior California colleagues. They also show the reformist message Khanna has been taking to audiences around the country ahead of a possible 2028 run.