By Harold Hutchison
California Democrats are competing behind the scenes to pressure Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over who would be appointed to replace retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein should she not finish her term, NBC News reported.
Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff are all running to replace Feinstein, each with powerful supporters, according to NBC News. Schiff has the backing of Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the house, while Porter is supported by some of Newsom’s allies and Barbara Lee, who is black, would fulfill a promise by Newsom to appoint a black woman to the Senate after he appointed Alex Padilla to fill the seat vacated by Vice President Kamala Harris.
However, behind the scenes, allies of Porter and Schiff are strongly opposed Lee’s appointment and are urging Newsom to reconsider his promise, arguing that Newsom would be unjustly influencing the primary by sticking to it, according to NBC News. Meanwhile, several prominent black Democrats are making their case to Newsom for why Lee should be chosen.
“Any decision pisses off someone important,” an unnamed Democratic strategist told NBC News. “There’s more of a downside than upside to just about anything you do.”
Feinstein, who was absent earlier this year after being hospitalized with shingles in March, announced her retirement in February. Her health issues and absence have prompted multiple calls for her to resign, including from Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Newsom has faced constant lobbying over the appointment, and said he’s been stopped by people and flooded with calls and emails about how to address a potential vacancy, according to NBC News, while his circle of advisers are divided between Lee, Schiff and Porter, with several working on campaigns or super PACs backing the contenders.
Feinstein is not the only member of the Senate who has missed time this year. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was hospitalized for depression and Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell missed time after falling at an event.
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These candidates are all losers. Especially Schiff. I mean how low can we go? That guy couldn’t tell the difference between a lie and a truth if you spotted him 9 out of 10 words. As for the two women, do we need yet another “victim” advocate in the Senate? These people are losers, elected by deluded voters. Quit that cycle! As to Feinstein, poor Diane had a Chinese spy as a chauffeur for 20 years and she was on The Senate Intelligence Committee! Just think what he gleaned for his bosses back in China! Come on California, quit the joking and get serious.