California’s political juggernaut seems to be heading for an unceremonious exit.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D), who represented California in Washington, D.C. for over 30 years, was revered as an untouchable. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein were the first two women to be elected to the Senate from California when they were elected in 1992. Feinstein has been pushed aside by her party, even though she hasn’t yet announced her retirement.
“God bless her,” Garry South told Politico. South is a Democratic strategist from California. “But the worst part about politics is when someone doesn’t know when it is time to go.”
Feinstein attacks are not new. California Democratic Party didn’t endorse Feinstein the last time she ran for reelection. The popular Democrat won nearly 3 million votes in primary, and then beat Kevin de Leon by approximately 1 million votes.
Feinstein was a reliable Democratic vote in Senate. He voted to convict Donald Trump in his impeachment trials. Feinstein also supported President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and American Rescue Plan Acts.
She was depicted in The Report as a strong anti-torture and anti-bush hero in 2019.
However, her liberal record has not been enough to stem the tide that is pulling California and the Democratic Party to the left.
At 89 years old, Feinstein is the oldest senator and longest-serving. However, ambitious Democrats are keen to seize the opportunity and see the blood in the political waters.
According to a long-time California Democratic strategist, “She’s still state’s senior senator.” “And they’re dancing upon her [political] tomb.”
Rep. Katie Porter (D.CA), a rising liberal star, opened the contest for Feinstein’s vacant seat after the calendar was flipped to January. She stated that the state needed a “warrior” in the Senate.
Weeks later, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) followed suit. Schiff was left weaker in the House when Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R.CA) removed him from the top of the House Intelligence Committee. However, it was believed that Schiff had been contemplating jumping before colliding with the Republican majority.
Feinstein will have to contend with two motivated, energetic candidates if she is interested in running again. Feinstein’s age is not only against her, Schiff is 62 and Porter 49 respectively — but also her job approval rating is in decline.
A Berkeley IGS poll from around a year ago showed Feinstein’s job approval rate at 30%, an all-time low. Another poll in October showed that Feinstein had regained support from voters but was still struggling with making most people happy. It came up with a 41% approval rate.
Despite her falling star among voters, she is also trying to get them to open their wallets.
Feinstein’s war chest is less than $10,000, and it has raised just $600 over the past three months.
The challengers to her are, however, barnstorming. Schiff has $21 Million in his bankroll, while Porter has $7.4 Million.
It is possible that some of the money Feinstein raises might also be accidental.
William Betts, a Carlsbad resident, said that some of the payments he made Feinstein were “automatic” and that he preferred a “younger candidate.”
