Drawing a diverse crowd of Bay Area voters, the “Rally with Ro” featured student and labor leaders and a performance by a local dance troupe. Two members of the Ro for Congress Executive Committee offered remarks as part of the day’s activities: longtime local labor leader, Sergio Santos, and former Khanna student at Stanford University, Lindsay Lamont.

“Ro understands that business and government make decisions that have a huge impact on middle-class families – and he isn’t afraid to role up his sleeves to get results,” said Santos, who was president of United Auto Workers Local 2244 for two decades and served as Community Labor Liaison for the NUMMI Re-Employment Center. “After the NUMMI closure in Fremont, Ro worked through the Commerce Department and fought for the economic development grant that helped create new manufacturing jobs in our community. That is exactly the type of person we need in Washington fighting for us.”

“As a teacher, Ro always stressed to us the importance of being innovators and gaining the skills needed to be successful in a 21st century economy,” said Lamont, a senior at Stanford University and former student of Ro. “I took those lessons to heart – and I think we need his kind of leadership to make education work better for everyone who is competing for the jobs of the future.”

With Silicon Valley’s distinct status as a world leader in technology and innovation, Ro is running for Congress to ensure the district has a representative who understands the challenges of competing in a global economy. Ro will use his experience as a manufacturing expert and a longtime technology attorney at one of the area’s most prominent firms to promote policies that increase the nation’s exports; incentivize firms to hire workers here at home; and boost advanced manufacturing to advocate for the type of common-sense policies that will grow the economy and create new jobs.

A longtime Bay Area resident, Ro returned to Fremont after serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Obama Administration. He is currently a Silicon Valley technology lawyer, professor of economics at Stanford University, and professor of law at Santa Clara University. Ro’s book on manufacturing, Entrepreneurial Nation: Why Manufacturing is Still Key to America’s Future, has won widespread praise for its strategies for keeping the best companies, jobs and opportunities in America.

“I share your frustration with the partisan gridlock and Washington special interests that are blocking our progress and keeping us from solving the big problems facing our communities,” said Khanna. “If elected, I will search for common ground while bringing fresh ideas to the table – so we can attack our problems instead of each other.”

Recognizing the innovative and forward thinking vision of Ro Khanna, Lt. Governor Newsom enthusiastically announced his support for Ro Khanna.

“I’m proud to support Ro. I know he will govern from a place of courage and authenticity. He has many innovative ideas to grow California’s economy and to apply technology to make government better for all his constituents,” said Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.