WASHINGTON — Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a likely 2028 presidential contender, has made more trips to Nevada this election cycle than any other potential candidate from either party, according to a candidate visit tracker kept by The Nevada Independent.
The tracker records seven visits and 16 public events in Nevada for Khanna, well ahead of former Chicago Mayor and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who is second with four visits and 12 events. Nevada has held one of the earliest contests on the Democratic presidential calendar in recent cycles, which makes it a frequent stop for national figures weighing a run.
A steady schedule since the spring
Khanna’s events in the state have ranged from policy forums to labor and party gatherings, according to the tracker. In April he joined Rep. Steven Horsford and OpenAI at the College of Southern Nevada to launch an artificial intelligence job-preparation program. In June he spoke at the Nevada State Democratic Party convention and met with the Teamsters. In August he held a town hall on artificial intelligence in Las Vegas.
His most recent trip came in the final weeks of the midterm campaign. On Oct. 22 he appeared on a panel at IndyFest, The Nevada Independent’s annual politics festival, and at a unity event with Stacey Abrams. The next day he held a town hall with Don Lemon hosted by the University of Nevada, Reno’s Students for Solidarity chapter.
The trips reflect themes Khanna has emphasized in his national profile: preparing workers for technological change, building ties with organized labor and reaching younger voters on college campuses.
How other prospects compare
The tracker shows a crowded field of Democrats and a handful of Republicans who have visited the state.
| Potential candidate | Visits | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Ro Khanna | 7 | 16 |
| Rahm Emanuel | 4 | 12 |
| Cory Booker | 3 | 9 |
| Andy Beshear | 3 | 8 |
| Pete Buttigieg | 3 | 7 |
| Ruben Gallego | 3 | 7 |
| Mark Kelly | 3 | 5 |
| Wes Moore | 3 | 5 |
| Kamala Harris | 3 | 4 |
| Gavin Newsom | 2 | 4 |
| Raphael Warnock | 2 | 4 |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | 2 | 3 |
| JB Pritzker | 2 | 2 |
| JD Vance | 2 | 2 |
Several prospects have made recent stops. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona visited Oct. 26 and 27. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York campaigned with Horsford on Oct. 24, and former Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with the Culinary Union on Oct. 21, according to the tracker.
On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance has made two visits, including an Aug. 31 appearance at the Republican Jewish Coalition. Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin campaigned with Gov. Joe Lombardo on Oct. 22. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not visited, the tracker shows.
The midterms as an audition
Potential 2028 candidates in both parties have used the 2026 campaign to raise their profiles and build relationships with party activists, PBS NewsHour and The Associated Press reported in October. Vance is scheduled to hold a rally Monday in Rome, N.Y., on the eve of the election, Flack Broadcasting reported.
Khanna has not announced a presidential campaign. Visits counted by the tracker are not a measure of support. But no potential candidate has spent more time in front of Nevada voters this cycle.
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