Khanna Insists AOC weighing presidential run won't affect his 2028 plans

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Rep Ro Khanna, who is "thinking seriously" about running in the 2028 presidential election, dismissed speculation that a potential run by Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) would affect his own ambitions for the post,

Both the socialist-aligned Democratic leaders, Ro Khanna and AOC, have left the door open for the 2028 presidential run.

While Ro Khanna has confirmed that he is considering running for the post, AOC has not formally or publicly confirmed a 2028 presidential campaign but refused to rule out the possibility.

Ro Khanna says AOC's plans won't affect his presidential ambitions

During a television interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, August 30, the Californian representative confirmed that he won't let this affect his political plans.

“If your fellow progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez runs, will you still run?” Bash asked Khanna on 'State of the Union'.

“It will have no bearing on my decision. Obviously, she’s extraordinary. But my vision is an economic vision. Look, Dana, one-third of the nation’s wealth is in my district, $20 trillion. We have five companies over a trillion dollars in my district. But where I grew up, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, this economy of the future isn’t working for them,” Khanna replied.

“And I have a vision called economic patriotism, which calls for having the greatest economic mission in generations to build a future economy that’s going to be working for people I grew up with, deindustrialized communities, the Black South,” he added.

With just over two months left for the midterms, the discussion and speculation around the presidential election scheduled in 2028 have intensified.

Ro Khanna, AOC among top Dem candidates for 2028 election

While Republican Vice President JD Vance is likely to contest the election is likely to contest the election, Ocasio-Cortez and Khanna, among many Democrats, are being talked about as possible candidates for the 2028 race.

Both Ocasio-Cortez's and Khanna's making bids for the presidency in 2028 would follow a wave of progressive successes in this year’s primaries, from New York to Colorado.

Besides them, Sen Jon Ossoff was floated as one of the other Democratic names for a 2028 presidential run, but he ruled out running, saying he has zero interest.

“I have zero interest in running for president in 2028, and, frankly, zero interest in the 2028 fantasy football right now,” Ossoff told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki at the time.