Ro Khanna Pitches 13-Point Rust Belt Plan on 3-Day Tour as 2028 Buzz Builds
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 28
Ro Khanna Pitches 13-Point Rust Belt Plan on 3-Day Tour as 2028 Buzz Builds
1 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 28
Twelve stops across Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan let Rep. Ro Khanna test-drive his “New Economic Patriotism” agenda with steelmakers, battery workers and farmers while saying he will weigh a 2028 run after the midterms.
At the center of the 13-point plan is a national industrial bank to finance strategically important production, which Khanna argues would outlast politically vulnerable tax credits and better counter China in sectors such as steel, autos and energy.
Ohio’s Ultium Cells plant became his clearest example: parts of the EV battery factory now sit idle after Republicans scrapped consumer EV credits, a setback Khanna says shows why industrial policy needs more durable support.
Khanna says he would pay for the program by shifting hundreds of billions from defense, taxing billionaires and potentially levying AI tokens, even as U.S. debt nears $40 trillion and some proposals face steep political odds.
The tour also sharpened his national profile in a region Democrats need to win back, with strategists viewing the message as groundwork for a populist 2028 lane and local hosts saying his manufacturing pitch landed well.
With new U.S. factory projects stalling, can a national bank succeed where other investments have not?
Is shifting billions from defense to industry a masterstroke for economic revival or a critical national security risk?
Can taxing AI usage protect human jobs without sacrificing America's competitive edge in technological innovation?
Ro Khanna’s 2026 Heartland Tour: Populist Economic Agenda and the Road to 2028
Overview
In May 2026, Representative Ro Khanna launched his 'Heartland Tour' across key Rust Belt states, unveiling his 13-point 'New Economic Patriotism' plan focused on economic revitalization and supporting working-class voters. This plan emphasizes bringing manufacturing jobs back to American communities and taking a strong stance against corporate power and foreign competition. Khanna’s tour and policy rollout have sparked speculation about his potential 2028 presidential ambitions, as he positions himself with a populist message aimed at addressing economic disparities and rebuilding the nation’s industrial base.