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Sandra Fluke wants to succeed retiring Rep. Henry Waxman (D) of California. The women鈥檚 rights activist and former Georgetown Law student, whom Rush Limbaugh called a 鈥渟lut鈥� on his radio show in 2012, has filed with the state Democratic Party seeking its endorsement for the upcoming race.

She hasn鈥檛 officially announced her effort or filed papers with the Federal Election Commission, according to The Washington Post鈥檚 Aaron Blake, who broke the Fluke news.

鈥淏ut filing for the state party鈥檚 endorsement means she鈥檚 officially part of the process,鈥� .

Ms. Fluke came to national prominence after testifying before a House Democratic panel two years ago, pushing for health insurers to include contraception coverage as part of the Affordable Care Act, also known as 鈥淥bamacare."

At the time, lawmakers were looking at the ACA clause that allows religious institutions to opt out of including contraception in their health plans if they wish. Fluke talked about her experience as a student at Georgetown, a Catholic university that did not include birth control in its health coverage.

This exclusion caused 鈥渇inancial, emotional, and medical burdens鈥� for female students at Georgetown, Fluke told Democrats after Republicans denied her bid to testify before a full House committee.

Shortly thereafter on his show, Mr. Limbaugh said of Fluke鈥檚 assertion, 鈥淚t makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute.鈥�

Uproar followed, with some top Republicans disowning Limbaugh鈥檚 choice of words. The radio host eventually apologized, but Fluke became a hero to many on the left.

This controversy may have made Fluke famous, but it does not ensure she鈥檒l inherit Representative Waxman鈥檚 seat. The list of well-known Democrats and independents eager for a chance to win the coastal L.A. district is long and getting longer. California鈥檚 jungle primary system, in which the top two vote-getters move to the general election regardless of their party affiliation, complicates all the contenders鈥� electoral strategies.

Fluke鈥檚 no carpetbagger: She moved to California following law school and passed the state bar exam two years ago. Other Democrats who have announced their intention to run include former Los Angeles controller and mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel, and state Sen. Ted Lieu, whose district largely overlaps Waxman鈥檚.

Democrats who have said they might run include Debra Bowen, California secretary of State; and California Assemblymember Richard Bloom.

Independent Marianne Williamson, a self-help guide author, had already jumped into the race, running to Waxman鈥檚 left. TV producer Brent Roske is another independent candidate. The big question is whether ex-Republican and current independent Bill Bloomfield will run. Mr. Bloomfield, a wealthy and successful businessman, plowed $7 million of his own cash into running against Waxman in 2012. He won 46 percent of the vote 鈥� a strong showing against a legendary 40-year incumbent.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a cast of thousands,鈥� Democratic strategist Garry South Seema Mehta and Jean Merl last week.

The 33rd District itself leans Democratic, but it's not as liberal as it used to be. Bloomfield did well in 2012 in part because redistricting carved much of Waxman鈥檚 liberal Los Angeles base out of the district, replacing it with heavily Republican Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south, points out election expert Charlie Cook in his Cook Political Report analysis of the 33rd.

That means Fluke鈥檚 liberal bona fides might not be enough to power her to victory.

Meantime, her nascent candidacy is sparking predictable partisan reactions. On the right, many conservatives are making some variation of the same joke.

鈥淚 see Sandra Fluke is planning a campaign for Congress. I presume she鈥檒l want us to pay for that, too?鈥� , co-founder of the conservative-leaning website The Federalist.

Meanwhile, the media are eagerly awaiting a comment on the candidacy from a certain well-known radio host.

鈥淪andra Fluke officially files to give Rush Limbaugh countless hours of material,鈥� Dave Weigel.