Sandra Fluke ‘strongly considering’ run for Waxman’s seat

Lawyer and women’s rights activist Sandra Fluke (D) is “strongly considering” a run for Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-Calif.) seat.

“I’m flattered that I’m being discussed as a potential candidate, especially for Rep. Waxman’s seat, considering his incredible legacy,” she told The Hill in a statement. “A number of folks I respect very deeply have reached out today and encouraged me to run. I am strongly considering running. I’ll be making my decision soon.”

{mosads}Fluke, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, made headlines after House Republicans refused to let her testify on birth control and Rush Limbaugh personally attacked her on his radio show. She became a campaign surrogate for President Obama and spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2012. She now lives in Los Angeles.

But she’s far from the only Democrat giving the race a hard look after Waxman’s morning announcement Thursday that he’ll retire at the end of this term. The Hollywood-based district is overwhelmingly Democratic.

Sources told The Hill that Santa Monica Mayor Willie Brien (D), the grandson of former California governor and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren (D), is seriously mulling a bid. California state Sens. Ted Lieu (D) and Fran Pavley (D), and state Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D) are also considering running.

Other potential candidates mentioned by Los Angeles and California Democratic strategists include Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield (D) and L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (D) — both of whom are close to Waxman — and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel (D).

Sources said Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) was thinking about giving up her swing seat to run for the safely Democratic district. But she ruled it out in a Thursday statement.

“It is a great honor to represent Ventura County in Congress, and I hope to be able to do so for many years to come,” she said.

Bobby Shriver (D), the son of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver and former brother-in-law of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), also ruled out a bid through his campaign manager.

Former Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), a close friend of Waxman’s who lost a primary battle to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) last year, has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, though most believe he won’t run.