Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) says Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) should “absolutely” run for president in 2020.

“I might be the first member of Congress to say this: Bernie should absolutely run again in 2020!” Khanna tweeted Monday.

I might be the first member of Congress to say this: Bernie should absolutely run again in 2020! https://t.co/B6u1vOX8Rb — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) June 12, 2017

Sanders narrowly lost the Democratic presidential primary to Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonFox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio Trump, Biden court Black business owners in final election sprint The power of incumbency: How Trump is using the Oval Office to win reelection MORE last year after rising from near-obscurity to win 23 states.

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Khanna told CNN that if he ran again in 2020, this time around Sanders would have the advantage of the support of more elected officials and the party apparatus.

"If you look at from the perspective of anyone in the past, if they come that close to the nomination, they'd almost be the de facto nominee the next time. I don't think he should be anointed — we shouldn't make the mistake of 2016 again — but absolutely he should run,” Khanna said.

Sanders has replied to frequent queries about 2020 by saying it’s a too early to be talking about it.

"His focus right now is on defeating Trump's disastrous agenda,” a spokesman told CNN. “To defeat the Republican health care bill that would take health care away from 23 million people and on advancing a progressive agenda to help working families across the country."

Khanna, a freshman lawmaker, represents the heart of Silicon Valley in the San Francisco area.