Rep. Ro Khanna Announces He Will Not Enter California Senate Race, Endorses Rep. Barbara Lee

Rep. Ro Khanna of California announced on Sunday that he will not be entering the competitive Democratic primary to fill the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein, instead opting to endorse fellow progressive Rep. Barbara Lee. Khanna made the announcement on CNN’s “State of the Union” program, citing his belief that the House of Representatives is the best place for him to serve as a progressive.

“I have concluded that, despite a lot of enthusiasm from [Sen. Bernie Sanders] folks, the best place, the most exciting place, action place, fit place for me to serve as a progressive is in the House of Representatives, and I’m honored to be co-chairing Barbara Lee’s campaign for the Senate and endorsing her today,” Khanna said.

The Democratic field to fill Feinstein’s seat also includes Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, who announced their respective candidacies in recent weeks. Khanna, 46, had been the subject of much speculation about whether he would join the race, but ultimately decided to stay in the House.

Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, has been a vocal progressive in the House since being elected in 2016. He has been a strong advocate for progressive policies such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.

Lee, who has represented California’s 13th congressional district since 1998, has also been a vocal progressive in the House. She has been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform, economic justice, and women’s rights.

The California Democratic primary for Feinstein’s seat will be held in June 2022. With Khanna’s decision to stay in the House, the field of candidates vying for the seat is now set.