Democrat Ro Khanna's Stock Performance Surges 112 Percent: Report
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California has emerged as one of the top‑performing stock traders in Congress, with investments tied to his family posting a 112 percent outperformance compared with the S&P 500, according to a new analysis of congressional stock disclosures.
The data, compiled by ProCap Insights and circulated widely on social media, show that trades linked to Khanna, particularly in artificial intelligence‑related companies, have delivered returns that surpass those of other lawmakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose family's stock trading has long drawn public scrutiny.
Why It Matters
Lawmakers from both parties have faced growing scrutiny as members of Congress consistently outperform the broader market, even as they shape policies that can affect entire industries.
In Khanna's case, the attention is heightened because he has built a national profile as one of the strongest advocates for banning stock trading by members of Congress, arguing that even the appearance of a conflict of interest erodes confidence in government.
What To Know
The new analysis examined congressional stock disclosures and measured "alpha," or excess returns above broader market benchmarks. From January 2024 through April 2026, trades associated with Khanna produced an estimated 112.1 percent excess return over the S&P 500, significantly higher than Pelosi's reported 38.5 percent outperformance over the same period.
"Nancy Pelosi take a seat. There is a new king in town when it comes to Congress members being abnormally good traders," Anthony Pompliano, the founder of Professional Capital Management, wrote on X.
While the figures have reignited debate over whether lawmakers should be allowed to trade individual stocks, there has been no indication that Khanna engaged in illegal activity.
Khanna stated previously that he does not personally trade stocks and that the investments in question are managed through a trust held by his wife, Ritu Khanna, without his involvement. Members of Congress are currently permitted to hold and trade stocks under existing law, provided they comply with disclosure requirements.
"The investment holdings of Congressional members have not just received more attention in recent years, but they've also been an outline for how some retail investors are actually making decisions on their own stock portfolios," Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
"Ro Khanna's portfolio has seen a boost as the broader market has in the last year, as AI has supercharged many companies higher. Still, the sharp rise is likely to gain more eyes as Americans wonder what the exact holdings are and-in some situations-how they can copy those in their own financial holdings."
The Silicon Valley Democrat has repeatedly advocated for banning stock trading by members of Congress.
Last year, he unveiled a political reform blueprint calling for term limits, a binding code of ethics, and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress. He has also publicly said that lawmakers should avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
"I have been a leader to ban Congressional stock trading, do not trade, and have no input in the trades filed by my wife's trust," Khanna wrote in response on X to the initial post by Pompliano.
Khanna's family finances have drawn attention before. Years prior, Khanna's wife invested in major oil companies, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, even as the congressman publicly supported the Green New Deal and aggressive climate legislation.
At the time, Khanna's office said the investments were held in a family trust established before his marriage and managed independently. The investments were legal and disclosed, though some questioned the optics of holding fossil fuel stocks while advocating sweeping climate reforms.
"Stocks don't move in a vacuum. You're seeing a combination of sentiment, positioning, and timing," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "But let's not kid ourselves. Members of Congress have access to information the general public does not."
What Happens Next
Based on this new stock analysis, the attention on Khanna and other lawmakers could intensify amid the debate over whether members of Congress and their families should be permitted to trade individual stocks at all.
"This is simple," Thompson said. "When there are no real rules, people operate within the rules that exist. Even if it contradicts prior statements about banning stock trades, behavior follows incentives, not rhetoric."
Newsweek's reporters and editors used Martyn, our Al assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM.