Dianne Feinstein’s Replacement Rears Her Head In Primary Challenge

(NewsGlobal.com)- California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein already has a primary opponent for the 2024 race, should she choose to run for re-election.

Earlier this week, Representative Katie Porter officially launched a 2024 campaign for the seat that Feinstein currently occupies. Feinstein hasn’t officially announced whether she will run for re-election or whether she will retire. Many pundits believe that she will choose to step aside, as she’ll be 91 years old by the time that race rolls around.

Porter announced her 2024 Senate candidacy on Twitter this week, writing:

“California needs a warrior in the Senate — to stand up to special interests, fight the dangerous imbalance in our economy, and hold so-called leaders like Mitch McConnell accountable for rigging our democracy.”

Politico reported last week that Feinstein is expected to announce in the next few months that she will retire at the end of her current term. Feinstein commented following Porter’s announcement saying that she’d announce per 2024 plans “at the appropriate time.”

She released a statement that said:

“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.”

Porter seems to have wanted to jump the gun and get her name in the ring early, before any other potential Democratic hopefuls do so. That could give her a few months’ head start on her campaign.

Other potential Democratic candidates for the seat include current Representatives Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee.

Spokespeople for both Schiff and Lee commented to Politico this week that Porter’s decision to announce her candidacy doesn’t change their own timeline for their decisions in regards to the seat.

Schiff has said in the past that he’d consider running for the Senate should Feinstein decide she doesn’t want to run for re-election. Sources close to Schiff have said that he’s already spoken to Feinstein about potentially making a bid for the seat.

In fact, people who are close to Schiff said they were all “perplexed” that Porter decided to announce her political campaign while California is facing significant storms that are causing mass devastation.

That’s the same basic message that Representative Ro Khanna — who has often been mentioned as another potential contender for the seat — sent when asked to comment earlier this week. She said she wouldn’t many any decision on whether she would run for the seat “for a few months,” but added:

“I’m just so focused on the flooding in my district and on the storms this week. So, I’m focused on that. We just got done with an election. I’m not making any decisions for a few months.”

Porter has served in Congress for three terms already and is seen as a solid fundraiser. As of the end of last year, she reported having $7.7 million on hand, and she raised $25 million during the last election cycle.