Ro Khanna

Ro Khanna
U.S. Congress/Eric Connolly · Public domain · source
Name	Ro Khanna
Birth name	Rohit Khanna
Birth date	13 September 1976
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician; Attorney; Academic
Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Ritu Khanna
Alma mater	University of Chicago; Yale Law School; Cambridge University
Office	U.S. Representative for California's 17th congressional district
Term start	January 3, 2017

Ro Khanna

Rohit "Ro" Khanna is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. Representative from California's 17th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, Khanna represents portions of the San Francisco Bay Area including parts of San Jose, Santa Clara, and Cupertino. He is known for work on technology policy, trade, and manufacturing, and for engaging with figures across Silicon Valley, federal agencies, and international partners such as India and China.

Early life and education

Khanna was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to immigrant parents from Punjab, India. He was raised in Fremont, California and attended local schools before matriculating at the University of Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts. He later studied as a Marshall Scholar at the University of Cambridge and obtained a law degree from Yale Law School, where he participated in programs associated with public interest law and international affairs involving institutions such as Harvard Law School and Stanford Law School through conferences and collaborative workshops.

Business and legal career

After law school, Khanna clerked for federal judges and worked at corporate and public-interest law firms, engaging with cases and clients linked to firms in Silicon Valley and financial centers such as New York City. He served in the administration of President Barack Obama as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Commerce, where he worked on innovation and competitiveness alongside officials who had connections to Google, Apple Inc., Intel Corporation, and Tesla, Inc.. Khanna later taught courses and lectured at institutions including Stanford University and advised start-ups, venture capitalists, and trade delegations that interfaced with U.S. Trade Representative offices and multinational corporations like Samsung, Microsoft, and Oracle Corporation.

U.S. House of Representatives

Khanna was first elected to the U.S. House representing California’s district encompassing parts of Silicon Valley in 2016, succeeding longtime Representative Mike Honda. In Congress he has served on committees and caucuses that include technology and foreign affairs bodies which interact with entities such as the House Judiciary Committee, House Armed Services Committee, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Khanna has engaged with federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Commerce, and Department of Defense on issues relating to semiconductor supply chains, cyber policy, and export controls that affect firms like NVIDIA Corporation and Applied Materials.

Political positions and legislative work

Khanna advocates for industrial policy to bolster domestic manufacturing and semiconductor production, working on initiatives that intersect with legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act and programs promoted by officials from the National Security Council and Biden administration. On trade, he has critiqued outcomes of agreements involving the World Trade Organization and has called for strategies that affect relationships with China and India. He has championed tech regulation addressing Big Tech companies such as Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon (company) through antitrust measures with coordination with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. Khanna supports worker retraining programs linked to Department of Labor grants and collaborates with labor organizations including the United Auto Workers and the Service Employees International Union. On foreign policy he has been involved in dialogues concerning Afghanistan, Israel, and Pakistan, joining members of caucuses like the Congressional Progressive Caucus and engaging with bipartisan coalitions alongside figures from the Senate and the House.

Electoral history

Khanna first ran for Congress in 2014 and again in 2016; he defeated incumbent Mike Honda in the 2016 primary and general elections. He has since been reelected in subsequent cycles, facing challengers from parties and notable figures connected to Silicon Valley, municipal government such as San Jose City Council, and state-level politics including former state legislators. His campaigns have featured endorsements and interactions with national figures from the Democratic National Committee, prominent donors linked to tech firms, and grassroots organizations like Indivisible and MoveOn.org.

Personal life and affiliations

Khanna is married to Ritu Khanna; the couple has two children and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is affiliated with civic and policy groups including the Council on Foreign Relations, academic centers at Stanford University and Yale University, and participates in forums with leaders from India such as exchanges involving the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. and state counterparts in California. Khanna is active in community organizations in Santa Clara County, collaborates with local governments including the City of Cupertino and City of San Jose, and maintains relationships with industry groups and labor unions that play roles in Bay Area public policy.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from California Category:American politicians of Indian descent Category:Harvard University alumni