Speculation about possible successors to retiring Rep. Diane Watson (D) is centering on former state Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.

Local Democrats say Bass would be a favorite to win a primary should she run.

Watson, 76, announced last week that she will not run for a sixth term.

Watson won her seat in the heavily Democratic district in a 2001 special election and has successfully defended it since then, consistently winning more than 80 percent of the vote.

Watson did not try to anoint a successor, telling the Los Angeles Times that she wanted to look at all of the candidates in the race to succeed her before deciding whom to endorse.