Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, is trying really hard to get a former lawmaker on board to help the Democratic Party’s midterm chances.

The progressive congressman joined CNN’s Dana Bash, where the two discussed the upcoming elections. At one point during a response, he called Rep. Jasmine Crockett “brilliant” and an “extraordinary asset” despite her lack of desire to endorse James Talarico.

Watch:

Ro Khanna calls Jasmine Crockett “brilliant.”

This may be his most outrageous attempt at gaslighting to date. pic.twitter.com/XCuMkcxMtw

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) August 30, 2026

“We have a great chance after almost a generation to win that state [Texas]. I have a great relationship with Jasmine Crockett, she is brilliant, from the Oversight Committee, that’s why I endorsed her, but she is an extraordinary asset and we need her on the team,” Khanna said.

This came after she said her efforts would be on “campaigning down ballot” rather than boosting the man who dashed her chances of joining the Senate.

“We’ve seen the turnout that you can produce. Talarico might very well need that magnetism. Will you campaign with him?” asked CNN’s Laura Coates.

“I will be campaigning down ballot,” Crockett said.

“Because when we’re looking at a state like Texas, we’ve tried this, where we’ve got one amazing candidate that’s running at the top of the ticket,” she explained, when asked why that would be her main focus. She specifically mentioned Beto O’Rourke as someone who was “raising all the money, doing all the things, running around the entire state, but it’s not enough” to flip Texas blue.

Minutes later, Bash asked if a potential presidential run from the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, would impact Khanna’s decision to seek office himself.

Watch:

BASH: “Looking ahead to 2028, you’ve said you’re seriously thinking about a presidential run. You just mentioned that you are a proud progressive. If your fellow progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez runs, will you still run?”

REP. KHANNA: “It would have no bearing on my… pic.twitter.com/oF5DqxWHUz

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) August 30, 2026

“Looking ahead to 2028, you’ve said you’re seriously thinking about a presidential run. You just mentioned that you are a proud progressive. If your fellow progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez runs, will you still run?” Bash pressed.

“It would have no bearing on my decision,” he stated. “Obviously she’s extraordinary, but my vision is an economic vision. One-third of the nation’s wealth is in my district. $20T, we have five companies over a trillion dollars in my district.”

He wants to create an economy that he believes will work for everyone, not just the big tech companies and other corporations under a vision he calls “economic patriotism.”

X users had a lot to say:

Ro’s standards are so low he admires Nazis, communists and Jasmine.

— Unruly Julie (@UnrulyJulie15) August 30, 2026

AOC is even more “brilliant”—another superstar of the Communist Democrat Party

— Xi Van Fleet (@XVanFleet) August 30, 2026

Democrats have made the bar so low that it’s actually buried now.

— Neil (@neilfromsa) August 30, 2026

Beyond the mid terms… I cant wait to watch the first couple of Democrat “presidential” debates! They will go from donkeys too asses at light speed.

— Michael Augustine (@Piper_Green) August 30, 2026

What’s amazing to us watching later (nobody watches CNN) is how Dana doesn’t laugh out loud when mentioning AOC running for President.

— Michael Johnston (@skiyryder) August 31, 2026