Powerful Dem Strategist Who Worked for Clinton, Obama, and Biden Has Selected His Candidate for 2028: Report
The excerpt claims that Ron Klain-former White House chief of staff under Joe Biden and now Airbnb’s chief legal officer-has been privately advising California Rep. Ro Khanna and offering support in connection with a potential 2028 progressive presidential bid.
It says Klain’s backing is based on reports that he used personal time to advise Khanna, including helping with debate preparation starting in July 2025 and that, since leaving the Biden White House, Klain’s attention has leaned toward progressive candidates. It also discusses Klain’s reputation during his time in government for sympathizing with far-left democrats,citing past criticism.
The text further argues that Khanna’s public appeal to some right-wing and libertarian audiences may be part of why Klain finds him notable, highlighting a past effort in which Khanna and libertarian-leaning Republican Rep. Thomas Massie worked together to push for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. It notes that after Trump-backed candidate Ed Gallrein defeated Massie in a GOP primary, Massie was still viewed by many on the right as a “martyr,” which the article claims makes Khanna more appealing to those critics.
it concludes that Politico’s sources did not specify whether Khanna’s perceived crossover appeal influenced Klain, and it outlines Klain’s broader career history.
Former President Joe Biden’s first White House chief of staff has provided assistance to a possible 2028 progressive dark horse.
According to Politico, veteran strategist Ron Klain, a prominent player in Democratic Party politics for decades, has thrown his considerable weight behind Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
More specifically, three sources confirmed that Klain “has been using his personal time to advise” Khanna.
Politico also learned that the former Biden official worked on debate prep with Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York beginning in July 2025.
From the record of his activities, then, Klain has gravitated toward progressive candidates since leaving Biden’s White House.
Even as a member of the Biden administration, the former chief of staff developed a reputation for sympathizing with far-left Democrats.
In fact, even in 2022, critics charged Klain with cozying up to the Congressional Progressive Caucus, according to The Washington Post.
In addition to leftists sympathies, however, Klain’s support for Khanna might have another explanation.
“I find being on Twitter useful as an early-warning system of things that, to be honest, reporters are talking about,” the then-chief of staff said in 2022. “So, a little way to kind of get a sense of what’s out there. What our activists are talking about. What our critics are talking about. What Republicans are talking about.”
On Twitter, now known as X, many users associate Khanna with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Last year, Massie and Khanna teamed up to force President Donald Trump’s administration to release files pertaining to the late sex offender and suspected sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, which the president had appeared reluctant to do.
That effort, for instance, brought Khanna to the attention of former Trump-supporting podcasters such as Shawn Ryan.
Watch the OFFICIAL PREVIEW with my next guest, Ro Khanna. https://t.co/7zGF01sKkT pic.twitter.com/8hOGIJSult
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyan762) January 13, 2026
Then, last month, Trump-backed Ed Gallrein defeated Massie in an expensive and hotly contested GOP primary.
Still, many of the president’s right-wing and libertarian critics regard Massie as a martyr. And that makes Khanna an unusually sympathetic figure in their eyes.
This is how your government is supposed to work
Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna
Democrats and republicans, working together to do what is right for the American people they represent
Not what is best for Trump, his family, the swamp, or Israel
But do what is best for you and me. pic.twitter.com/Sb3yJd5qAR
— Matthew H (@MattH_4America) June 7, 2026
Politico’s sources, however, did not indicate whether Khanna’s potential crossover appeal as a Democratic presidential candidate attracted Klain.
Currently Airbnb’s chief legal officer, Klain, 64, served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Byron White, a John F. Kennedy appointee, beginning in 1987.
He also served as associate counsel for judicial selection under President Bill Clinton, chief of staff to Vice President Al Gore, chief of staff and counselor to Clinton Attorney General Janet Reno, and chief of staff to Biden during his vice presidency. After his stint as Biden’s chief of staff, Klain served as White House Ebola response coordinator under President Barack Obama.
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