CONGRESS | 17TH DISTRICT | One of the most closely-watched House races in the country is about to receive even more attention. In a surprising turn of events, Tuesday night’s primary between Rep. Mike Honda and Ro Khanna is a virtual tie, with just over half of the ballots counted in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.
After Honda began the night with an already small lead, Khanna overtook him shortly after midnight by just 87 votes. The lead translates to a 0.01 percentage point lead for Khanna, 38.2 percent to Honda’s 38.1 percent.
Regardless of the outcome, Honda and Khanna are assured a rematch of their 2014 general election campaigns. However, the deadlocked primary is sure to raise alarms for the Honda campaign and the local Democratic Party establishment.
Early Wednesday morning, Republicans Peter Kuo and Ron Cohen were also battling it out throughout the evening for a distant third. Kuo earned 9 percent of the vote, with Cohen following at just over 8 percent. San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio was fifth at 4 percent with Kennita Watson at 2 percent.
Honda’s campaign acknowledged the tight primary race shortly after vote-by-mail ballot results were released after 8 p.m.
“With individuals ready to trample on the middle class bank rolling my opponent’s campaign, we know that this is going to be one of the closest Congressional races in the country,” said a defiant Honda. “I am ready to fight tooth and nail between now and November 8th.”
ebcitizen.com 
Should check out how/why Ro was Facebook friends with the center of the Oakland Police scandal. He quickly deleted her once the news broke. Just saying.
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OK Steven, give us your analysis and outlook! Honda's “we knew it would be close” line conflates the primary and general electorate demographics in order to cover up the fact that he was shooting for a 10+ win (or 13 points as you predicted on Monday).
The fact that did not happen is meaningful! No amount of PR or flacking will cover that up.
The real comparison is primary 2014 vs primary 2016: going from Honda +20 to Khanna winning in a squeaker.
Drop the bill collection stories and give us your take as a journalist!
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I am shocked by this result.
It really does seem that Honda should step aside. The longer he drags this out the more time and money is wasted on what is ultimately a distraction and waste of resources.
The middle class in the district and elsewhere will survive with one less progressive representative. I don't think the donors who Honda is concerned about will be able to buy the party or the seat. There is legitimate concern about how, incrementally, progressives values are being trampled by money (for example w/ Democrats for Education Reform…) and I hope some of the reflexively anti-labor trends in the Democrafic party are looked at with the same skepticism by Khanna as they were by Honda.
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Seriously folks, look at Honda's statement…
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“”With individuals ready to trample on the middle class bank rolling my opponent's campaign, we know that this is going to be one of the closest Congressional races in the country,” said a defiant Honda. “I am ready to fight tooth and nail between now and November 8th.”
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The man is delusional… Where is Honda going to pick up extra votes? He carved out the Left and portrayed Khanna as not being a true “progressive”.
Now Mike…tell us…what are the odds you'll be picking up more of the Republican and independent voters come November?
Uh…ZERO chance dude…
And Mike… what are the chances you'll be raising more money than Khanna? ZERO chance dude.
Given that Khanna is surely NOT going to take his foot off the pedal, this race is effectively over.
Intelligent Honda supporters are not going to throw good money into a losing cause.
I'd say Honda has less than a 1 in 50 chance of winning. He will likely lose by more than 10 points.. No better than 55/45.
Honda should suck it up and spare everyone the waste of time and effort.
But like I said… Honda appears delusional.
Mike… its OVER. Really, its OVER.
Now you'll be able to nap without someone snapping a pic. We all age…Ali fought too long… Pete Stark ran too long…and now you ran one time too many. That is reality.
But politicians as I said are often delusional.
Think about Mary Hayashi running for the state senate a few years ago…
Or this time Nora Campos running.
These folks just don't get it. Its OVER.
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