Intellectual Property » Patent Lawyer Making Congressional Bid, Funded By Silicon Valley Giants

Patent Lawyer Making Congressional Bid, Funded By Silicon Valley Giants

June 3, 2014

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A 37-year old patent lawyer is looking to unseat Silicon Valley’s longstanding 17th District House Representative, and some of the tech industry’s biggest names are throwing their support behind him. Ro Khanna worked at the Silicon Valley law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he represented high technology companies in intellectual property cases. Leaders from firms like Google, Yahoo Inc., Tesla Motors, Twitter, Ebay, Salesforce.com and Hewlett Packard have helped Khanna raise $3.8 million, compared to the $2.1 million raised by incumbent Rep. Michael M. Honda. Both men would be considered liberals, but Tech firms have painted Honda, 73, as out of touch with their industry and its needs, and Khanna’s campaign is portraying him as someone who may finally be able to communicate the Silicon Valley message to Washington, and further political influence there.

Update [June 5]: After the June 3 primary, both Honda and Khanna advanced to the general election. The lead-up to the November general election is expected to be one of the most costly and competitive intra-party races of the 2014 cycle.

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