{"id":2627879,"date":"2026-07-10T08:59:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ro-khanna-downplays-platners-downfall-as-bad-sign-for-progressive-movement\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T09:01:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:01:45","slug":"ro-khanna-downplays-platners-downfall-as-bad-sign-for-progressive-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ro-khanna-downplays-platners-downfall-as-bad-sign-for-progressive-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"Ro Khanna downplays Platner&#8217;s downfall as bad sign for progressive movement"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fro-khanna-downplays-platners-downfall-as-bad-sign-for-progressive-movement%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2627879&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) acknowledged that his initial support for Graham Platner was misguided after allegations of sexual assault prompted Platner to withdraw from the Maine U.S. Senate race. Khanna emphasized that this setback does not reflect a shift in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-pro-life-leftists-unexpected-strategy-for-exposing-abortion-on-national-tv-run-for-president\/\" title=\"Pro-Life Leftist&#039;s Surprising TV Strategy: Run for President to Expose Abortion\">broader progressive movement<\/a>, which has seen recent successes, especially among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/caruzo-venezuela-opposition-plays-ball-with-maduro-for-yet-another-sham-election\/\" title=\"Caruzo \u2013 Venezuela &#039;Opposition&#039; Plays Ball with Maduro for Yet Another Sham Election\">socialist candidates<\/a>.Despite supporting Platner initially, Khanna disavowed him following new allegations from Platner\u2019s ex-girlfriend.<\/p>\n<p>Khanna&#8217;s involvement included attending campaign events with Platner and endorsing other progressive challengers, reflecting his support for rising left-wing candidates challenging establishment Democrats. He highlighted that successful candidates are tapping into frustrations with corporate interests, threatening conventional power structures.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the disruption caused by Platner\u2019s scandal, Khanna predicted it would have minimal lasting impact on the race, viewing it as a short-term news story. He also continues to position himself as a candidate willing to challenge the Trump administration and Democratic norms, possibly aiming for a presidential run in 2028. However, at recent Democratic events, Khanna did not <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >garner important enthusiasm compared<\/a> to other prominent figures, and questions remain about his ability to build enough momentum to contend with other leading Democratic aspirants.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5039\">Ro Khanna <\/a>(D-CA) admitted his faith in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22643\">Graham Platner <\/a>was ill placed, after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637616\/graham-platner-sexual-assault-maine-senate\/\">sexual assault allegations<\/a> led the progressive candidate to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4638358\/graham-platner-suspends-maine-senate-campaign\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4638358\">drop out of the U.S. Senate race<\/a> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"193\">Maine<\/a>, but said the failed campaign is not reflective of a general change in momentum that has seen many socialist candidates succeed recently.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI got the Platner call wrong, obviously,\u201d Khanna told <em>Politico<\/em>. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t negate from the progressive movement.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4643311\/platner-adviser-assures-maine-candidate-will-file-paperwork-withdraw\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner adviser Morris Katz says he\u2019s \u2018disappointed\u2019 and assures Maine candidate will file paperwork to withdraw<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4643203\/republicans-prepare-new-battle-plan-platner-baggage-senate-switch-out\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate Republicans prepare new battle plan after Platner switch-out<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4643166\/democrats-maine-senate-race-installing-candidate-soviet-style-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democrats will install a candidate \u2018Soviet style\u2019 again in Maine: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Khanna, who has been floated as a possible <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11676\">2028<\/a> presidential contender, has endorsed many primary candidates challenging establishment Democrats, including state Rep.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4590335\/iowa-democratic-senate-primary-2026\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4590335\"> Josh Turek<\/a> in Iowa and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4634011\/abdul-el-sayed-schumer-momentum\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4634011\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a> in Michigan. He was one of Platner\u2019s biggest supporters, going to a campaign event with him just days after allegations of questionable behavior toward an ex-girlfriend first emerged last month. Only after the most recent allegations from Platner\u2019s ex- girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, were made public, where she said he entered her home uninvited and forced her to have sex with him, did Khanna disavow Platner.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Khanna said he went to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4589805\/ro-khanna-platner-maine-rally\/\">the June campaign<\/a> event with Platner to get a sense of what was going on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4642800\/maine-democrats-walk-tightrope-spurn-platner-while-courting-his-voters\/\">MAINE DEMOCRATS WALK A TIGHTROPE: SPURN PLATNER WHILE COURTING HIS VOTERS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s always better to be the man in the arena. When you make as many endorsements and you\u2019re in the fight and you\u2019re not in the ivory tower, you\u2019re going to get some calls wrong,\u201d Khanna said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Left-wing challengers have been seeing a lot of success against their establishment primary opponents, particularly since the New York elections in June. The Democratic Socialists of America, which backs many of these candidates, has said the momentum is encouraging and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4625810\/dsa-eyes-national-expansion-new-york-wins-democrats-brace-new-primary-fights\/\">just the beginning<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Khanna has echoed that sentiment, saying the strength of the movement is enough that even candidates with baggage will be successful by feeding into frustrations about corporate interests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEven flawed candidates are doing well on that platform, and the establishment is scared about that platform because it threatens their traditional donors and it threatens their traditional power structure,\u201d he said. \u201cThey realize their days are numbered.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for the lasting effects of Platner\u2019s disgraced campaign, Khanna didn\u2019t expect it to have much staying power, despite the chaos that his dropping out introduced to a race that is integral for Democrats\u2019 mission to flip the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis will be a one-week news story,\u201d Khanna said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4641945\/graham-platner-replacements-maine-senate-democrats\/\">WHO IS RUNNING TO REPLACE GRAHAM PLATNER?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Khanna has beefed up his image as someone looking to take on the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\"> Trump administration<\/a> and buck Democratic norms. He\u2019s partnered with Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17668\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY) in efforts to pressure the administration on the Epstein files, as well as to cut off U.S. aid to Israel. His endorsement strategy is also seen as part of his grander intention to compete with other heavy hitters in the 2028 Democratic primary for president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Khanna\u2019s adviser, Jeff Weaver,<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/aoc-ro-khannas-midterm-endorsements-influence-democratic-party\/story?id=134046393\"> told ABC News<\/a> in June that the congressman is trying to \u201cbuild a Democratic power\u201d that can halt Trump\u2019s agenda. Plus, Weaver said, \u201cit helps [Khanna] build relationships and bridges across the various wings of the party.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it\u2019s unclear if he\u2019s building enough momentum to compete with the likes of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), or Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD).<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Al Sharpton\u2019s National Action Network convention, where many big names in the Democratic Party tested out the appetite for their political brand, Khanna didn\u2019t receive the same level of enthusiasm as others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t think they saw him really in the presidential, even though he\u2019s rumored to be looking at it,\u201d Sharpton told the <em>New York Times<\/em> after the event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not one attendee at the event <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4523728\/2028-democratic-hopefuls-al-sharpton-national-action-network\/\">spoke to the<em> Washington Examiner<\/em><\/a>  about the California Democrat as a presidential contender.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Khanna admits mistake on Platner, denies shift in socialist wins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2970,"featured_media":2627880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ro-khanna.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[65502,82351,32530],"class_list":["post-2627879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-platner","tag-progressive-movement","tag-ro-khanna"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ro-khanna.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2970"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2627879"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2627883,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627879\/revisions\/2627883"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2627880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2627879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2627879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2627879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}