Anna Eshoo, longtime congresswoman who saw Silicon Valley turn blue, announces retirement

Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo announced Tuesday that she would retire after 16 terms of representing Silicon Valley in Congress, a declaration that came the day after San Jose Spotlight first broke the news. The departure of Eshoo, whom Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi once described as "one of my dearest friends in the world," is likely to set off a crowded and expensive race to replace her in California's dark blue 16th District.

All contenders will face off in the March 5 top-two primary, which coincides with the state's presidential primary. Joe Biden carried this Bay Area constituency 75-22 in 2020, so there's a good chance that Democratic candidates will claim both spots in the Nov. 5 general election.

Eshoo's potential successors will have only about three weeks to decide whether they're running, though an unusual state law gives them a little extra time to make up their minds. The candidate filing deadline is set for Dec. 8, but it's automatically extended to Dec. 13 in races where no incumbent files for reelection.