Khanna vows investigations if Democrats win 2026 elections

At the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting, Representative Ro Khanna of California promised that if Democrats regain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, they will launch a series of investigations into powerful figures and entities. Speaking from the podium on Saturday, Khanna said, "We hold accountable the powerful who stole from this nation, who dodged this nation, and who kill innocent people on the streets in this nation." His remarks were directed at a broad range of targets, including tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Peter Thiel, whom he described as people who "think of themselves as above you and I." Khanna also voiced support for abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling it "a cruel, rogue agency." This position, however, was not universally accepted within the Democratic Party, as the committee was divided on whether to support abolition or reform of the agency.

Khanna's statements come amid a heated midterm season in which Republicans have made holding their majorities a central talking point to prevent any Democratic-led investigations. House Majority Leader Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned in June at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority Conference that if Democrats took control, "They will turn every committee of Congress into an investigative body, and they'll go after the president's family, the Cabinet, his donors, and friends." Johnson added, "Half of you in this room will be targeted." This Republican framing underscores the high stakes of the upcoming elections, with both parties anticipating a shift in power that could lead to aggressive oversight.

Khanna, a leading figure in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, has been raising his national profile under the Trump administration. He has pushed for the release of the Epstein files alongside Republican Representative Thomas Massie, and he has endorsed candidates in key midterm races as he eyes a potential 2028 presidential run. In an interview with NPR this week, Khanna said he is "thinking seriously" about a presidential bid in 2028. His recent actions and statements are part of a broader strategy to position himself as a champion of working-class Americans against what he perceives as the undue influence of wealthy tech elites.

The DNC also approved a 2028 primary schedule that gives South Carolina the first spot, a move that could shape the Democratic presidential nomination process. Khanna's advocacy for abolishing ICE aligns with a more progressive stance on immigration, but it has created internal friction within the party. The debate over ICE reflects a larger ideological divide between those who favor more radical reforms and those who prefer incremental changes. As the 2026 elections approach, Khanna's promises of investigations and his policy positions are likely to remain central to his political identity and to the broader Democratic strategy.