Silicon Valley leaders move to challenge Rep. Ro Khanna after he backs California wealth tax

Representative Ro Khanna of California is facing a coordinated push by some Silicon Valley executives after he publicly defended a proposed one-time wealth tax, according to people briefed on the discussions. The proposed ballot measure would require California residents worth more than $1 billion to pay a 5 percent tax on their assets over five years, and Gov.

Gavin Newsom opposes it. Mr. Khanna defended the measure as a way to fund health care programs and drew anger from wealthy executives with a now-viral post that mocked billionaires who threatened to leave the state; he later posted a longer explanation and said the original remark was off the cuff.

Some wealthy Californians have been mobilizing on WhatsApp chats and conference calls to consider a well-funded bid to oust Mr. Khanna, half a dozen people close to the effort said. Potential figures involved include Garry Tan and the investor Sheel Mohnot; Ron Conway wrote in an email seen by The Times that he was helping lead an effort to defeat the tax proposal and has given $100,000.

Ethan Agarwal, a little-known start-up founder running for governor, confirmed he was “seriously considering challenging” Mr. Khanna, while others considered Mayor Matt Mahan and Eric Jones but found them uninterested. The effort faces obstacles: Mr.

Key Topics

Politics, Ro Khanna, Wealth Tax, Silicon Valley, California, Garry Tan