Ro Khanna comes to Nebraska

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) is traveling through Nebraska today, one of several states he’s visiting in what could be preparation for a Presidential run in 2028.

At one o’clock this afternoon, the Silicon Valley Congressman and vice-chair of the Progressive Caucus dropped by the Nebraska Democrats’ office at 76th and Dodge for a meet-and-greet event. Khanna’s visit took place during a phone banking event, with volunteers doing ballot-chasing via phone calls in advance of Omaha city elections next month.

I got to chat with Khanna briefly as he made his way inside. Khanna commented on a Wisconsin case where a county circuit judge was arrested by the FBI on Friday for allegedly helping a man evade U.S. immigration authorities. Khanna described the judge’s actions as “trying to help” and seemed to consider the arrest a serious case of executive overreach by the Trump administration, calling it a “constitutional crisis.”

There were very few people in attendance, only around 12–16 people who I could see among staffers and phone bankers. There was also no media coverage, only a campaign photographer who arrived with Khanna. Attendees included Nebraska Democrat Chair Jane Kleeb, District 2 city council candidate LaVonya Goodwin, and ‘blue dot’ elector Precious McKesson. Omaha mayoral candidate John Ewing was expected to campaign with Khanna according to a press release, but he did not arrive until near the end of the event. District 2 city council candidate Ben Gray left before Khanna arrived.

Nebraska Republican chair Mary Jane Truemper commented on Khanna’s visit in a press release. “This visit highlights a clear contrast between the far-left policies Khanna promotes and the successful, commonsense leadership seen right here in Nebraska. While Khanna represents a state burdened by rising crime, a severe homelessness crisis, and sky-high taxes, Nebraska—and Omaha in particular—has taken a different path.”

Haile McAnally of the Omaha Young Republicans also commented. “Ro Khanna can keep his California chaos — Nebraska doesn’t want it. We’re proud of our commonsense values, and we’re not about to trade them for failed progressive policies.”

While the reception at the Omaha office was relatively small, Khanna will be holding a “town hall” style event in Grand Island later this evening, where one staffer expected a much bigger crowd.