Who Is Running in California Congressional District 17th in 2026?
Last updated: March 4, 2026
Rohit Khanna
(Incumbent)Economy
HighRep. Ro Khanna advocates for economic renewal and creating high-paying jobs in communities impacted by deindustrialization. He co-authored the CHIPS and Science Act and supports the Steel Modernization and Decarbonization Act to revitalize manufacturing. Khanna promotes a "new economic patriotism" focused on shared prosperity and empowering the middle class. He emphasizes investing in advanced manufacturing, high-tech apprenticeships, and worker training programs to ensure economic independence for all.
Immigration
HighRohit Khanna introduced the End ICE Abuse Resolution in February 2026, advocating for congressional oversight and human rights standards in detention facilities, and proposing to replace ICE with a new agency under the Department of Justice. He supports the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act to create a path to legalization for agricultural workers and seeks broader pathways to citizenship, family reunification visas, and asylum for refugees. He also works to reform the H-1B visa program to prevent worker displacement.
Healthcare
HighRepresentative Ro Khanna advocates for universal healthcare, viewing it as a human right and a step toward Medicare for All, as evidenced by his reintroduction of the State-Based Universal Health Care Act. He supported the California One-Time Wealth Tax for State-Funded Health Care Programs Initiative. He also voted "Yea" for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, which provided funding for mental health services, and the Honoring our PACT Act addressing veterans' healthcare access.
Republican Candidate
No Republican candidate has been confirmed for this race yet. Check back after the primary.
| Issue | Rohit Khanna |
|---|---|
| Economy | Rep. Ro Khanna advocates for economic renewal and creating high-paying jobs in communities impacted by deindustrialization. He co-authored the CHIPS and Science Act and supports the Steel Modernization and Decarbonization Act to revitalize manufacturing. Khanna promotes a "new economic patriotism" focused on shared prosperity and empowering the middle class. He emphasizes investing in advanced manufacturing, high-tech apprenticeships, and worker training programs to ensure economic independence for all. High |
| Immigration | Rohit Khanna introduced the End ICE Abuse Resolution in February 2026, advocating for congressional oversight and human rights standards in detention facilities, and proposing to replace ICE with a new agency under the Department of Justice. He supports the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act to create a path to legalization for agricultural workers and seeks broader pathways to citizenship, family reunification visas, and asylum for refugees. He also works to reform the H-1B visa program to prevent worker displacement. High |
| Healthcare | Representative Ro Khanna advocates for universal healthcare, viewing it as a human right and a step toward Medicare for All, as evidenced by his reintroduction of the State-Based Universal Health Care Act. He supported the California One-Time Wealth Tax for State-Funded Health Care Programs Initiative. He also voted "Yea" for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, which provided funding for mental health services, and the Honoring our PACT Act addressing veterans' healthcare access. High |
| Climate & Energy | Rohit Khanna advocates for a clean energy economy, supporting investments in solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, and clean hydrogen to tackle the climate crisis while ensuring economic stability. He supports repealing fossil fuel subsidies, closing fracking loopholes, and banning fracking on public lands. As former Chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, he investigated the fossil fuel industry. High |
| Abortion & Reproductive Rights | Research pending more substantial sources. Low |
| Foreign Policy | Rohit Khanna voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 and the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018. He supports ethical AI, advocating for technology companies to resist using AI for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons, as seen with Anthropic's contract loss. Khanna opposes military actions in Iran, believing that international cooperation, sanctions, or a stronger nuclear deal are preferable to bombing to prevent nuclear development. He advocates for bipartisanship and international cooperation over military solutions. High |
| Education | Rohit Khanna advocates for expanding special education, art, and STEM programs, emphasizing that a well-rounded education is crucial for students to be globally competitive. He supports free public college, community college, and vocational education, along with forgiving student loan debt for the working and middle class. Khanna also champions funding for apprenticeships, family-supporting wages for teachers, and high-quality universal preschool, stating that education is a fundamental right. High |
| Gun Policy | Rohit Khanna supports stricter gun control measures. He advocates for strengthening background checks for all gun sales to prevent firearms from reaching violent felons and domestic abusers, and he voted for H.R. 8 to that end. He also supports banning AR-15s and broader assault weapons, regulating magazine sizes, and funding CDC studies on gun violence, co-sponsoring HR 1478. High |
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