Khanna to Replace Krishnamoorthi as Top Democrat on Influential China Committee
Udumbara
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Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) will replace Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) as top Democrat on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced.
Jeffries commended Khanna as a “fighter for our nation and the health, safety, and well-being of the American people,” and acknowledged his commitment to “defend our national security and protect human rights around the world.”
Khanna posted that he will work to guarantee “economic prosperity for hardworking Americans,” and he wants to make sure the United States will lead in artificial intelligence and “innovation in the 21st century economy.”
He is a fifth-term congressman representing Silicon Valley, California.
Khanna has recently been spearheading the Epstein Files Transparency Act to get the Justice Department to release all unclassified records of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The committee highlights threats from the Chinese Communist Party and works to defend America and the U.S. economy from the CCP.
In his announcement, Krishnamoorthi said the challenge from China “spans the economic, technological, and military domains,” and said it is “among the defining tests of our time.”
Krishnamoorthi worked with committee Chairman John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) on threats to Taiwan, the U.S. sale of advanced computer chips to China, as well as the dangers from Beijing hanging over the U.S. auto industry and mineral resources.
“I am proud of what we accomplished together. We built a credible, bipartisan committee that strengthened U.S. economic and national security while keeping American competitiveness at the center of our work,” wrote the congressman in his announcement.
As the top democrat on the committee, Krishnamoorthi also raised objections to President Donald Trump’s handling of U.S.–China relations.
“By focusing overwhelmingly on commerce, Trump has failed to tell Americans that Washington is competing with the CCP over opposing economic models, values, and visions for the world—not just over trade deficits,” wrote Krishnamoorthi.
In May 2025, Krishnamoorthi announced his candidacy for the 2026 midterms for the open Illinois Senate seat, to be vacated by Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who is retiring.
In a blue state like Illinois, the Democratic primary race is expected to determine the outcome of the midterm election.
