Bobby Khan, once featured on the FBI's Most Wanted list with a $20,000 reward for his arrest, is now campaigning for Congress in Nevada's 1st District. His journey from international exotic car dealer to federal fugitive to political candidate represents one of the most unconventional campaigns in recent American politics.
Khan built Emporio Motor Group in Ramsey, New Jersey, into a successful exotic car business, holding exclusive franchises like Zenvo and appearing on shows like Real Housewives of New Jersey. His life unraveled in 2014 when federal charges were filed against him in connection with his dealership. Khan maintains the dispute with a bank should have remained in civil court, but a federal arrest warrant was issued, leading to six years as a fugitive overseas with his family.
The human cost of Khan's journey includes the loss of his son at birth in 2013, which he describes as shaping his subsequent decisions. After surrendering at the U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates in 2020, he served eight months in prison for wire fraud followed by 32 months on an ankle monitor. His prison experience forms the foundation of his policy platform, which includes justice reform, tax credits to bring manufacturing into prisons, and ending civil asset forfeiture without conviction.
Now running as a Republican against Democrat Dina Titus, Khan's campaign branding leans into his controversial past with "Wanted for Congress" posters styled like FBI bulletins. His platform also includes zero taxes on veteran income, affordable housing initiatives, and ending federal wild horse roundups in Nevada—a position that has earned him support from Yellowstone actress Dawn Olivieri and Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald.
Khan's campaign has gained unexpected traction in Las Vegas, drawing Republicans, Democrats, and independents to his rallies and intimate "After Dark" gatherings. His appeal stems from what supporters see as authentic lived experience with economic struggle and the justice system. Recent controversy with MGM Resorts, which banned him from all properties after he criticized the company's practices, has only amplified his message among supporters.
The candidate's story has been covered extensively by local media, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, where he has spoken openly about his past. "I've been in prison, I've been in jail," Khan told the Review-Journal. "I know what people go through, I know what the families go through. I can actually talk about prison reform better than any politician out there."
Khan's campaign represents a test of whether voters will embrace a candidate with a felony conviction and controversial past over traditional political experience. With nearly 90,000 Instagram followers and growing local support, his bid challenges conventional political wisdom about electability and redemption in American politics.
