Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), a potential 2028 presidential candidate, downplayed questions that his support of the controversial Graham Platner, Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine, could damage a future run for higher office.In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Khanna said voters would focus on his work in Congress to hold lawmakers and criminals accountable, such as convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.“I’ve endorsed so many candidates,” Khanna said. “I think what people look at is my leadership on the Epstein files, my leadership on stopping the war in Iran, my leadership in standing up to the billionaire class, in calling for attacks on billionaires, my leadership on my economic vision, call that new economic patriotism for how to create economic success across this country.”
Khanna is among the several Democrats who have backed Platner’s campaign to take on incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) this November. But after a recent scandal in which Platner aggressively handled an ex-girlfriend, Khana has navigated a thorny balance.
“I want to be clear: his actions were misogynistic, they were shameful, they were wrong, but they didn’t come as a surprise to a lot of the folks in Maine,” Khanna told Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on Sunday.
