Honda to Run for Congress
If Assemblyman wins, he may help return Congress to Democrats
By Jason Ma and Sam Chu Lin

For days the phone at the South San Jose home and the office of Assemblyman Mike Honda has been ringing off the hook with requests from Democrats asking him to run for Congress.

Up through this weekend, he had been planning to run for the state Senate first. But on Monday, Honda decided to take his colleagues up on their plea, announcing he would run for U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell’s seat instead.

“I think the amount of attention that is being paid to this race indicates the seriousness of winning this seat for the Democrats,” Honda said. Indeed, Democrats have identified the 15th Congressional District seat -- which Campbell is leaving in hopes of being the GOP challenger to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein next year -- as among a handful that could restore their House majority.

“It’s a big race!” Honda exclaimed. “It’s not a slam dunk. I recognize that the polls say one thing, but when you’re out there on the day-to-day campaign trail, it’s a formidable task. ...

“I think our district deserves to have choices, and I’m putting myself up to be one of those choices.”

Given Friday’s filing deadline, Honda had to make a decision fast. Afterward, Democratic party leaders, including the president himself, applauded Honda’s choice. In fact, on Tuesday when Honda was pulling up at the San Jose Registrar of Voters office to get his papers, his cell phone rang. When Honda picked up, he heard, “Hello, Mike -- this is Bill Clinton!”

After Honda filled the president in on his fortuitous timing, he said, he told Clinton “that I was very privileged and honored the president of the United States was calling me and asking me for my participation in the congressional race.”

With a smile, Honda added, “The president said he would come down and do a fund-raiser for me.”

Lockheed Martin executive Norm Mineta -- whom Campbell succeeded -- has also pledged to do “anything and everything” to help, Honda said.

“Given his background and experience in the state Legislature, he is the ideal candidate to be running,” Mineta stated. “Mike’s special interest has always been people. ... I’m really thrilled and pleased that he has now said yes, he will run for Congress.”

Several weeks ago, Democrats looked at 19 districts being vacated by Republicans to determine how best to get the five-seat lead that could return the majority to them next year. The 15th District reportedly had the best chances.

Honda noted that his decision had long been a part of the assemblyman’s plan -- albeit not so soon, according to campaign spokesperson Jennifer Vanderheide. Originally, she said, Honda had planned to stay in the Assembly until his term came up in 2002, then run for the state Senate in 2004. A race for the U.S. House would have come further down the road, she said.

But noting the call from Clinton, Vanderheide drew a parallel between Honda’s decision this week and one he made in the 1960s to join the Peace Corps. In that case, she said, he had been inspired by then-President John F. Kennedy.

“There’s a pretty clear call to service here,” she said.

Given that Honda officially announced his decision only Tuesday, Vanderheide said he has not yet had the chance to talk with politicos who might want his Assembly seat, though San Jose City Councilmember Manny Diaz is among those who have expressed interest.

Honda’s departure from California’s state legislature could soon mean that the Assembly and state Senate will collectively have only one Asian American on board -- freshman Assemblyman George Nakano.

Spokeswoman Becki Ames said the news came as a surprise to the Torrance Democrat, though rumors that Honda might seek a Congressional seat had been widespread. Nakano himself could not be reached for comment.

The news took other API politicos by surprise, too. “Oh, fantastic...good for Mike,” said a startled Keith Umemoto when told of the news Tuesday.

Noting that he had worked closely with Honda on human services issues while the assemblyman was on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Umemoto noted that Honda has shown “consistency on the issues,” including education, small business and senior care. The assistant secretary of trade and commerce, who also serves on the Asian Pacific American Democratic Leadership Caucus, said the party’s encouragement of Honda is part of a larger campaign by the Democratic Party to get more Asian Americans to seek national office. “The party is always looking for good people. Mike fits that bill.”

He added that Honda’s candidacy is particularly important considering the increasingly Asian American population in and around San Jose. “There’s certainly a need for a more commensurate voice in Congress,” he added.

Honda has been no stranger to controversy. Last year, he sponsored a nonbinding resolution calling on Japan to apologize for war atrocities in the ’30s and ’40s. While the resolution did pass, it also ignited a debate among Japanese Americans like Honda who felt that the United States should take a stance and others, like Nakano, who believed that raising the issue would unfairly stereotype Japanese Americans. (Nakano remained neutral on the measure.)

Yesterday, Honda was scheduled to fly to Japan for an international symposium focused on that country’s World War II atrocities and the calls for an apology and reparations. Honda emphasized that no taxpayer dollars will be used for the visit, which is being underwritten by private groups.

Honda pointed out the state’s rapidly growing Asian immigrant population -- which he said now makes up a third of Silicon Valley -- is among the most important reasons why the more than six-decade old controversy needs to be put to rest.

“It will help heal the undercurrent of wounds that exist today between our communities in America,” predicted Honda, who promised to report on his findings when he returns.