California Democrats are fighting over Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat before the 89-year-old has announced whether she is considering another run.
Multiple prominent Democrats in the blue stronghold state have been making moves behind the scenes to prepare in pursuit of the six-year post, setting the stage for one of the most competitive Senate primaries in the 2024 election.
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So far, Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) is the only prominent Democrat to have declared, but her preemptive announcement may force other prospective nominees to up their timetable for a decision on whether to run. Here is a look at the top Golden State Democrats rumored to be considering a run.
Dianne Feinstein
Despite concerns about her age, Feinstein has not publicly ruled out another run. One of her colleagues, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), 89, sailed to reelection in the midterm elections in 2022, creating a precedent for a near-nonagenarian to serve in the upper chamber.
Following Porter’s announcement Tuesday, Feinstein declined to announce her plans.
“Everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement concerning my plans for 2024 at the appropriate time. Right now I’m focused on ensuring California has all the resources it needs to cope with the devastating storms slamming the state and leaving more than a dozen dead,” Feinstein said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
Katie Porter
Following in the footsteps of her mentor, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Porter ended speculation about her Senate ambitions Tuesday, throwing her hat into the ring for the 2024 race. Her campaign claims that she hauled in over $1.3 million since her campaign launch. An outspoken progressive, Porter has gained a reputation for grilling corporate executives during House committee hearings.
Porter has been a rising star in progressive circles and managed to win a House seat in a competitive district two times in a row, most recently fending off a tough Republican challenge in the midterm elections.
Adam Schiff
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) quickly rose through the Democratic ranks in the House, becoming a lead impeachment manager against former President Donald Trump. Despite his high profile, Schiff bowed out of the running for a top House Democrat leadership post in spite of rumors he would challenge Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for the minority leader role.
This fueled further speculation that he has been eyeing a Senate run, and he has publicly admitted that he is considering a 2024 bid. He has reportedly sought advice from former Sen. Barbara Boxer about whether to run.
Ro Khanna
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) has been prodded to run by allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Schiff and Porter may be fundraising juggernauts, but Khanna has made significant inroads with the Silicon Valley elite, which may help him to undercut such fiscal firepower, according to Politico.
Barbara Lee
The long-serving Oakland congresswoman was reportedly vetted by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) as a possible replacement for Vice President Kamala Harris’s old Senate seat. Ultimately, Newsom opted for Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), but Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has discussed the prospects of making the leap over to the upper chamber with her family.
Eric Swalwell
Chatter about Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) entering the California Senate race has been mostly moot, but he previously exhibited ambitions for higher office when he ran for president in 2020. He is also among the most high-profile Democrats in the House and was recently booted from the House Intelligence Committee by Republicans.
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Ultimately, a Democratic primary may not settle the showdown for the Senate. Under California’s primary system, the top two Democrats could wind up facing off in the general election. This happened when Harris vied for the seat and faced then-Rep. Loretta Sanchez in 2016.
The 2024 Senate map nationally is expected to be difficult for Democrats, but California remains a safe bet. In 2024, 20 Democrats and three Democratic-aligned independent senators are up for reelection, dramatically eclipsing the Republicans’ 11. Having far more seats to defend is expected to give Republicans a fundraising and logistical advantage, though Democrats defied expectations in the 2022 midterm cycle.
