The Eye

Simitian said he talked to Honda before making the decision to start raising money for a still-hypothetical House race.

Honda since 2001 has represented a South Bay district near San Francisco that includes the high-tech Silicon Valley. He has been hinting at interest in an administration job since shortly after Obama won last year's presidential election.

Honda in November told a radio station in San Jose (part of which is in the 15th District) and other California media outlets that he hoped Obama would consider him for Education secretary. "If I don't throw my name out, it won't show up in the mix," said Honda, a former school teacher and principal, at the time.

That didn't work out for Honda, as the Education post went to Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, a hometown friend and ally of Obama.

More recently, California political insiders have reported that Honda has expressed an interest in being named to head the Peace Corps, an opening that Obama has not yet filled. Honda has a long history with the organization, starting in 1965 when he began a two-year stint as a volunteer in El Salvador.

But Michael Shank, a Honda spokesman, told CQ Politics in an e-mail that the congressman has "never stated his interest" in the Peace Corps job "nor is he interested in leaving his seat as a member of Congress."

Simitian, who hails from Palo Alto, would be well positioned to strongly contend for the 15th District seat were Honda to step aside. Elected to the state Senate in 2004 after four years in the state Assembly, Simitian easily won re-election to his second and final term in 2008. Because of a state term limit, Simitian will be unable to run again for that seat in 2012.

But Simitian likely wouldn't be immune from competition from other Democrats in this overwhelmingly Democratic district. Former California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, who was barred by a term limit from seeking re-election last year, also announced in November that she would seek Honda's seat if he leaves.

-- Leah Nylen