Incumbent Rep. Mike Honda far behind challenger in fundraising race

A former member of the Obama administration who is challenging incumbent congressman and fellow Democrat Mike Honda reported Wednesday having nearly $1.8 million in cash for the 2014 race -- more than four times as much as Honda in a Silicon Valley contest that is drawing White House attention.

Ro Khanna, an attorney who worked in the Commerce Department, reported raising more than $1 million in the last three months, including donations from technology titans such as Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer and Napster cofounder Sean Parker.

Honda reported raising $345,000 during the same period, leaving $375,000 in his campaign coffers.

The contest between two Democrats is unusual. Honda, 72, has held elected office for more than three decades, and first won his seat in Congress in 2000. In every race since then he has crushed his opponent, including last year when he won by 48 points over Republican Evelyn Li.

The establishment backs Honda; his supporters include President Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. And Vice President Joe Biden stumped for Honda in Sunnyvale in June, a full 17 months before the election -- a sign that the challenge from Khanna, 36, is being taken seriously.

Khanna’s campaign is being led by some former Obama campaign advisors and has drawn support from many of Obama’s donors.

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Twitter: @LATSeema