Silicon Holler: Ro Khanna says big tech can help heal the US heartland

Ro Khanna talks with reporters after leaving a House Democratic Caucus meeting at the Capitol. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Shortly after Silicon Valley sent him to Washington, Ro Khanna visited “Silicon Holler”, a name coined by a colleague, Hal Rogers, for the fledgling tech sector in eastern Kentucky.

The two congressmen’s districts had little in common. Khanna’s was among the wealthiest, most diverse and most Democratic. Rogers’ was among the poorest, whitest and most Republican.