Round Two: Honda and Khanna Headed for a Rematch in November

Longtime San Jose congressman Mike Honda was winging his way back to Washington, D.C., Tuesday night for a committee meeting when the first election results came in, showing Democratic upstart Ro Khanna in a dead heat with him and headed for a November rematch.

A third Democrat, two Republicans and a Libertarian are also in the race for the 17th Congressional District seat. But because of the top-two primary system, a runoff between Honda and Khanna is expected in November.

When Khanna first ran against Honda in 2014, he was behind 20 points in the primary, and then lost narrowly in the November general election by 3.5 percent.

On Tuesday night Khanna, an attorney and former U.S. Commerce Department official, said it's going to be several days before he knows the final primary results.

"We're optimistic that the message of change is resonating. But it's a long night, a long campaign and a lot of work to change the direction of the country. So this is a first step," he said.

Meanwhile, Honda, who has served eight terms in Congress, missed his election party in San Jose but mixed it up with voters earlier in the day at polling locations. He had to be at a committee meeting Wednesday morning and said that "California's primary doesn't really fit with the congressional calendar."

Honda has a House Committee on Ethics investigation hanging over him for allegedly giving campaign donors favors, such as fast-tracking visas and for not having a firewall between congressional and campaign work by staffers. The findings of the investigation are expected to be released before the November election.

But Honda said that, moving into the general election, he'll keep doing what he did throughout the primary season.

"I will cooperate with the process," said Honda. "People ask questions and I'll respond to them. And remind people it's not a criminal investigation, that these were House rules that were allegedly broken or violated and over the line. I've taken care of it as an officeholder. I've created a bright line between the congressional and campaign sides."

Khanna wants Honda to debate him three times before the general election throughout the Silicon Valley district, which includes all or part of Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, San Jose, Cupertino, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.

"I'd do 10 [debates]. And it's not because we need them to win, but it's what's right for this district," said Khanna.