Rep. Ro Khanna confirmed on Sunday that he will not join the crowded field of California Democrats vying for Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, instead choosing to support fellow progressives in the race.
Congressman representing Silicon Valley announce their decision remain in the House on CNN’s “State of the Union,” after much anticipation about whether Khanna, 46, would become the latest Democrat to run for the seat vacated next year by Feinstein, 89, who will retire soon after. decades of career in public office.
“I have done that, despite a lot of enthusiasm from [Sen. Bernie Sanders] brothers and sisters, the best place, the most exciting place, the place of action, the right place for me as a progressive is in the House of Representatives, and I am honored to be the general chairman. [Rep.] Barbara Lee’s campaign for the Senate and supporting her now,” Khanna said. “We need a strong anti-war senator, and she will fill that role.”
Lee, a longtime California progressive in the House, announced his candidacy for the Senate last month. If elected, she would be the only black woman in the upper chamber, after Vice President Kamala Harris left her California Senate seat for her current position.
Lee’s announcement comes after House Democrats Adam Schiff and Katie Porter launched a campaign for the same seat, both have announced that they are running before Feinstein even confirmed her retirement.
Khanna said that while he respects Schiff and Porter, Lee “is a unique voice.” The congressman highlighted Lee’s anti-war voting record, particularly in 2001 when he gained national attention for being the only member of Congress to vote against invading Afghanistan.
“He is the only choice against the endless war in Afghanistan. He stands firmly against the war in Iraq. He is working with me to try to end the war in Yemen and the resolution of the war powers,” he said.
“And frankly, Jake, representation is important. We don’t have a single African American woman in the United States Senate. She’s going to fill that role. She’s going to be the only candidate from Northern California, and she’s going to, I think, bring together a lot of progressive, said Khanna. “The other two are terrible candidates, but I think Barbara Lee will be very strong.”