Silicon Valley-backed challenger enters race against Ro Khanna

Early Tuesday, Ethan Agarwal, a 40-year-old tech entrepreneur with no political background, announced he is running for California’s 17th congressional district, setting the stage for what may become one of the most lavishly funded primary challenges of the 2026 cycle.

The contest centers on Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender who has publicly backed a one-time California wealth tax and, alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, introduced national legislation for a 5% annual wealth tax on billionaires they estimate would raise $4.4 trillion over a decade.

Agarwal’s résumé includes Wharton, three years at McKinsey, founding audio fitness company Aaptiv (sold in 2021), and co-founding financial-services startup Coterie, backed by Andreessen Horowitz.

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