Fremont & Newark: Battlegrounds In 2014 Congressional Race?

Although the 2012 election has barely passed into the rearview mirror, political insiders are looking ahead to a possible 2014 race between Ro Khanna and veteran Democratic Rep. Mike Honda.

Honda won 73 percent of the vote in November in the newly drawn District 17, which now includes Newark, part of Fremont, Cupertino, Milpitas, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. 

He is a six-term congressional veteran with strong roots in San Jose politics and a track record of election victories.

Khanna is an Indian-American attorney specializing in intellectual property law who served as a Commerce Department official in the Obama administration.

Political blogger Marga Lacabe notes that Khanna had amassed a $1.2 million war chest to run in the 15th Congressional District when it was represented by former Rep. Pete Stark.

Khanna had intended to wait for Stark to retire. But before Stark could step down he was defeated by Dublin city councilman Eric Swalwell. 

Now Khanna is thought to be contemplating a run in the new 17th District.

He recently got some solid encouragement from the San Jose Mercury editorial board. "(Khanna) isn't officially running," the Mercury opined, "but he has more than a toe in the water. We'd say he's about chest deep at this point."

But Honda isn't about to let himself get "Starked" and has already won endorsements from President Barack Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, reports Oakland Tribune political columnist Josh Richman.

With 15 months until the next primary election -- Honda and Khanna are both Democrats and would face each other in June 2014 -- anything could happen.

But even the potential for competition in what should be a "safe" seat for Honda suggests that California elections could be getting more competitive.

Most voters stick with incumbents. How about you? Any thoughts on Mike Honda or his potential challenger, Ro Khanna?