Khanna Celebrates Election Results, Says ‘DEI Is Back’ After Democrats Retake Congress

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) celebrated the midterm election results in a video posted to X, saying the outcomes marked the return of diversity, equity, and inclusion in American politics after Democrats regained control of both the House and Senate.

Khanna pointed to a wave of historic gubernatorial and Senate wins across the country. He noted there were now “likely three black governors” following victories by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) in Florida, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D) in Wisconsin, and Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) in Georgia.

He also highlighted Texas, where state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) defeated incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott (R), making her the first Latina elected governor of Texas.

“Tonight, DEI is back as America celebrated diversity and inclusion,” Khanna said. “Likely three black governors, the first Latina governor in Texas, the first Muslim-American senator, the first gay senator. I love this America.”

Khanna’s remarks follow months of debate among Democrats over how to respond to Republican criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. In an October interview, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), who is transgender, pushed back on critics of DEI.

“I don’t know what anyone could object to in each of those words,” McBride said. “What do people have against diversity? What do people have against equity? What do people have against inclusion?”

In a September appearance on CNN, Rep. Dave Min (D-CA) argued that Republicans were using DEI as a political distraction from more pressing concerns.

“Here’s what I think: I think Republicans are looking for anything they can use to distract people from the fact that they have failed, over and over again,” Min said. “Americans are pissed off about rising costs, about the lack of good jobs in this country, housing, the Iran war, tariffs, and the massive corruption in the White House with the Trump family that we talked about in a hearing earlier this week. Republicans have not addressed any of this. They are looking for distractions. So, they’re talking a lot about DEI.”

The commentary from Khanna, McBride, and Min reflects an ongoing divide between the two parties over how diversity-focused policies should factor into national politics heading into the next legislative session.