When Democrats try to recover from underwhelming performances in the 2024 election, Rep. Democrat California Ro Khanna not only took stock from the defeat that sting last autumn, but also took pictures in his own political party.
After watching Democrats exchanged nominations and struggling to convey a cohesive message to voters in the last campaign cycle, Khanna told ABC News in an exclusive interview that he believed the agenda of political reforms that focused on combating corruption “was what we had to run in 2026” and regret the political costs that come when Democrats campaign at other priorities in 2024.
“That is a mistake,” Khanna said, adding he “did not hear the agenda of political reform” from President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris during the respective presidential campaign. “Trump becomes an outsider. That is a mistake that we do not live with the theme of reform. Getting money and lobbyists out of politics – it must be our coat.”
Now, Khanna introduces Drain swamp actionswhich permanently prohibits White House officials from receiving gifts from the lobbyion-return the mandate of the Biden era which sets ethical and lobby rules for people appointed in the government.
“Anti-corruption must be the core to rebuild the Democratic brand,” said Khanna, who served in his fifth term, said. “Democrats need to be seen as having a reform coat.”
Rep. Ro Khanna in Capitol, 4 December 2024.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Khanna said he was surprisingly that one of President Donald Trump’s first action from his second term was to sign the executive order to cancel Biden’s orders – creating encouragement to make an agenda aiming for the Washington play door between the lobbyist and parliament members.
“This is part of a broader feeling that Democrats must carry out anti-corruption,” Khanna said, complaining that the Democratic Party allowed Trump to “question” the anti-corruption theme “Swamp Drain”. Khanna said that he had harmed his party not only two presidential elections in 2016 and 2024, but also the majority control of the congress.
“We must be excited,” Khanna said-explained his vision for the five-point anti-corruption agenda.
Khanna wants to prohibit a former member of the congress from the congress who has lobbied, and she wants to force the limit of a 12 -year term for members and a period of 18 years to the Chief Justice. Khanna said he was sure that the judges who had expired had to return to serve in a lower court after they left the post in the high court. Khanna also advocated the “binding code of ethics” for the Chief Justice in the midst of ethical pressures in court.
The view of the US Supreme Court in Washington, 29 June 2024.
Kevin Mohatt/Reuters, File
“If Democrats want to rebuild, start with anti-political corruption,” Khanna emphasized, adding that he had received a positive reception from various people such as billionaire Mark Cuba and even Republican voters who supported his promise to “drain the swamp.”
Khanna also called for the prohibition of members of the congress and their families from holding and trading individual shares during the term of office of members in the office, as well as the prohibition of members of the congress and candidates who nominated themselves to the DPR seats or the senate from receiving contributions from the Political Action Committee.
As for his future political interest – whether the re -election, the house of the Governor of California or even the White House in 2028 – Khanna kept his card close, but his choice was open.
“RO believes that anti-corruption and economic patriotism need to be a driving theme of the Democratic Party for 2026 and 2028, regardless of who entered the fight or lead the party,” Sarah Dory, a spokesman for Khanna, told ABC when asked about the political prospects of the congress.
However, Khanna’s profile continues to grow when she faces voters and weighing her future choices-sometimes even before the viewers of the Republic in Fox News or in the district controlled by GOP.
After Trump delivered a joint speech to the congress last week, Khanna continued “Fox News Sunday” and recognized that it was “not a good performance” because Democrats not only protested the president, but also rejected guests invited in the First Lady box.
President Donald Trump spoke in a speech for a joint congress session in the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025.
Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images
“We should defend the boy with cancer. You support the President of the United States, because he respects Americans,” Khanna told the program. “I mean, you stand for a widow of firefighters.”
“The story should be about President Trump,” continued Khanna. “We should talk about the cutting of Medicaid. Conversely, we talk about our own behavior. And that is a disturbance from us out of our economic message.”
Khanna will also hold three city hall meetings directly during the tour “Benefits of more than billionaires” on March 23 in the GOP-controlled district, where the anti-corruption agenda will go on stage next to its progressive bona fide.
“Smart has a clear message,” Khanna told ABC News. “We are a party that will save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.”