Two South Bay politicians who endorsed incumbent Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) for re-election last year have publicly “defected” and are now supporting his challenger, fellow Democrat Ro Khanna.
Santa Clara Vice Mayor Debi Davis and former Milpitas Mayor Bob Livengood reportedly now prefer former Obama administration trade official and attorney Khanna, according to Bay Area political tracking blog ibabuzz.com.
“I’m convinced that Ro Khanna is the type of principled, energetic fighter Santa Clarans need in Washington to get things done for our families,” Davis, who is registered as an independent voter, reportedly said in Khanna’s news release.
Livengood appeared to make a cloaked reference to an ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee into Honda for allegedly blurring the lines between official and campaign business. He said Khanna’s priorities “are in line with the people of Milpitas, from public safety, to job creation, to bringing the highest ethical standards to Washington.”
Last month, several prominent Democrats, including State Senate President Kevin de Léon (D-Los Angeles), San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, and longtime Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone, threw their support behind Khanna.
On Wednesday, Honda campaign spokesman Adam Alberti issued the following statement to ibabuzz:
While the Congressman is sorry to have lost the support of Debi Davis and Bob Livengood, we are confident that with the continued support of the California Democratic congressional delegation and the vast majority of the party he will continue his efforts in Congress, fighting for working class families and a better life for all residents of Silicon Valley.
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