Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has a message for the ultra-wealthy: buckle up. After progressive, socialist-backed candidates scored major victories in New York's Democratic primaries, Khanna took to X to declare, "Our message to the oligarchs: bring it on. After last nights decisive wins, have a new, strong, bold Democratic party."
The post included a video clip where Khanna laid out the platform he thinks should define the party: "No to foreign wars, no to genocide, but yes to Medicare for all, yes to childcare for all, yes to unions for all, and yes to a tax on billionaires and trillionaires."
Khanna was referring to a sweep by candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose allies defeated establishment-backed Democrats in several high-profile House primaries. Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, both aligned with the left, were among the winners. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander also won a closely watched race backed by Mamdani.
The victories show growing strength for Democrats who want the party to focus more aggressively on economic inequality, unions, health care, child care, and U.S. policy toward Israel. They also deepened internal party tensions, with centrists warning that a sharp leftward turn could make it harder to win swing voters in November.
Khanna's message tracks with his push for the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, a proposal with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would impose a 5% annual wealth tax on Americans with more than $1 billion in assets.
The post came after Khanna clashed with Elon Musk over cuts made through the Department of Government Efficiency. Khanna accused Musk's DOGE effort of helping dismantle USAID and cited a Lancet-linked estimate that aid cuts could contribute to 4.5 million child deaths globally. Musk rejected the charge, threatened to sue Khanna, called him a liar and "Ro the Robber," and amplified calls for him to face prison. Khanna responded by challenging Musk to a televised debate over DOGE cuts and demanding that Congress subpoena him for testimony.
Khanna is not alone in defending the party's insurgent wing. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said, "One of the things that makes the Democratic party great is it's a big tent party, we need to stay that way." He added, "The focus has got to be the November election."
