Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (R) declared her intentions to run for Senate in California on Wednesday, after exploring a 2010 campaign against Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) for months.

National Republicans think Fiorina could mount a serious challenge to Boxer, a third-term incumbent whose aggressive brand of liberal politics has made her the more vulnerable of the Golden State’s two Democratic Senators. As the one-time CEO of a high-profile tech company, Fiorina has the name identification and capacity to self-fund that could make it a real contest. But she also has baggage stemming from her ouster from Hewlett-Packard in 2005.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was quick to highlight that fact on Wednesday.

“The hallmark of Carly Fiorina’s resume is her tenure at Hewlett-Packard where she laid-off 28,000 Americans while shipping jobs overseas — just before taking a $21 million golden parachute,— DSCC spokesman Eric Schultz said in a statement.

Fiorina faces a primary challenge from state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who is running to the right of her politically. The DeVore campaign this week is touting a recent endorsement from outspoken conservative Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and the Senate Conservatives Fund political action committee, which he heads.

Garamendi Cruises in Race to Succeed Tauscher

While most eyes were focused on Tuesday’s big-ticket elections on the East Coast, a House race in California quietly went about its business with Lt. Gov. John Garamendi (D) winning the 10th district special election.

Garamendi beat attorney David Harmer (R) 53 percent to 43 percent, and he is scheduled to be sworn in today.

Unlike Tuesday’s other special election in New York’s 23rd district, which was hotly contested by both parties, the race in California received little attention and was not targeted by the GOP. Democrats have a voter registration edge of 47 percent to 28 percent in the district, which is along the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay area.

Garamendi will succeed former Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D), who took a State Department job in the Obama administration.