2019 federal election

Khanna unsuccessfully challenged Liberal incumbent Ruby Sahota in Brampton North.^[8] During the campaign, a 2010 tweet resurfaced in which Khanna used a homophobic slur. He apologized unequivocally for his remarks, noting he was a teenager at the time the comments were posted.^[9]

2022 leadership race

Khanna served as the Ontario co-chair for Pierre Poilievre's successful leadership bid. Subsequently, he became the national outreach chair for the Conservative Party.^[4]

2023 Oxford by-election

In 2023, Khanna decided to run for the Conservative Nomination for the Riding of Oxford to succeed then-Member of Parliament, Dave Mackenize.^[4] In February 2023, MacKenzie criticized Khanna for promoting a quote implying that Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre endorsed him for the nomination and the party was supporting Khanna's candidacy. Mackenzie believed it a violation of the party nomination rules based on the Conservative's code of conduct.^[10][11] When another candidate, Gerrit Van Dorland backed by anti-abortion groups, was disqualified by the Conservatives, Khanna, disagreed with the decision on social media and asked the party to reverse the decision.^[12] In April 2023, Khanna defeated two other candidates such as Mackenize's daughter, Deb Tait, a Woodstock city-county councillor.^[13]

Mackenize, who cited concerns in the leadership race announced his endorsement for local realtor, David Hilderley, who was the Liberal candidate.^[14] This led the Conservatives to deploy their entire caucus to campaign for Khanna.^[15] On June 19, Khanna was elected to the riding, defeating candidates such as Hilderley.^[8] After the race, operatives from the Conservatives, accused the Liberals of racism due to them emphasizing Hilderley local ties to riding while contrasting that Khanna was an outsider; the Liberals argued that the Conservatives were deflecting.^[6]