RO Khanna: From Punjab Roots to U.S. Political Leadership
Representative Ro Khanna has emerged as one of the leading progressive voices in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is committed to rebuilding American manufacturing, strengthening the nation’s role in technology, and ensuring that working families see real improvements in their daily lives.
Early Life & Family
- Born September 13, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Indian immigrant parents from Punjab.
- His father is a chemical engineer (educated at IIT and University of Michigan), and his mother is a schoolteacher.
- Maternal grandfather, Amarnath Vidyalankar, was a participant in India’s independence movement (working with Lala Lajpat Rai), and spent time in jail for his activism.
Education
- Graduated from Council Rock High School in Newtown, Pennsylvania, in 1994.
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics (with honors) from University of Chicago in 1998; member of Phi Beta Kappa.
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Yale Law School in 2001.
Early Career
- After law school, he clerked for Judge Morris S. Arnold (federal appeals) in Arkansas.
- Practiced law in private sector, specializing in intellectual property and trade secret litigation.
- Taught economics at Stanford University.
Public Service & Political Rise
- Served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Commerce (2009–2011).
- Ran for Congress several times; unsuccessful bids before eventually winning in 2016, when he defeated Democratic incumbent Mike Honda to represent California’s 17th Congressional District (Silicon Valley region).
- Re-elected in subsequent terms; as of now he is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Roles & Committees
- Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
- Member of several important committees:
- House Armed Services Committee – ranking member on the Subcommittee for Cyber, Innovative Technologies, & Information Systems.
- Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party.
- Oversight and Accountability Committee.
Policy Focus & Political Philosophy
- Describes himself often as a “progressive capitalist” — someone who supports capitalist economic structures but pushing for broader inclusivity, worker rights, and economic justice.
- Advocates for restoring U.S. manufacturing, tech leadership, affordable healthcare, free or reduced cost higher education, child care, and helping working people.
- On foreign policy, Khanna supports diplomatic engagement, military restraint, human rights, climate action, and a more balanced competition with China.
Personal Life & Other Interests
- Married to Ritu Khanna (née Ahuja); they have two children.
- Residence: Fremont, California (in Silicon Valley).
- Outside of politics, he enjoys watching movies, traveling, and is a fan of the Golden State Warriors basketball team.
Author of books such as Entrepreneurial Nation: Why Manufacturing Is Still Key to America’s Future (2012) and Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us (2022).
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