California Rep. Katie Porter Announces Run For Senate: Rep. Katie Porter, a rising star in the Democratic Party known for her sharp interrogation of business executives and use of a whiteboard to simplify difficult ideas in congressional hearings, declared her candidature for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
The California seat widely anticipated to be vacated by Democrat Dianne Feinstein is being sought by the Irvine attorney. The trailblazing San Francisco Democrat, 89, who was first elected to the Senate in 1992, has stepped back from some official duties in recent years after being questioned about her mental fitness for office. Early in 2025, the term she is serving ends.
She continued, “I’ve seen how this corruption threatens our nation and our economy. “I want to run to continue doing what I have been doing in Congress, which is fighting for families and standing up to special interests.”
Even though Feinstein hasn’t made her plans public, if she leaves the Senate as many assume, there will be a rare opening for the Senate seat representing California.
When Did California Rep. Katie Porter Announces Run For Senate?
Election to the coveted position in a state brimming with ambitious Democratic politicians may offer a vantage point of influence in Washington for decades or, as was the case for Vice President Kamala Harris, a launching pad to even higher office.
Porter claimed that before launching her campaign, she had contacted the senator. She said she wants to speak with Feinstein soon after speaking with her staff.
“I have the utmost respect for Sen. Feinstein and everything she accomplishes, and I believe she will decide for herself when the time is right. She is in charge of it, Porter added. “She is a trailblazer, and I am happy to follow the route she paved for women in California politics.”
Porter continued, however, that she thinks “the finest warrior” is needed to represent Californians’ interests in the Senate and that it is “time for a change.”
Read More:
- Elizabeth Macdonald Fox News Age: Is she married?
- How Did Erin Como Start Her Career At Fox 5 News? Who Is She Dating Right Now?
Why Did Democratic Strategists Advised Entering The Race Quickly?
As long as you don’t come out as unnecessarily speculating on someone’s retirement, being early is always advantageous, according to Rose Kapolczynski, the campaign manager for former California senator Barbara Boxer.
She pointed out that Boxer declared her intention to run for Sen. Alan Cranston’s seat before he made his retirement announcement.
To win a third term in Congress, Porter, a rising star in the Democratic Party, defeated Republican Scott Baugh, a former state senator, in November. The 49-year-old single mother was elected to Congress in 2018 as part of the “blue wave” of that year and immediately established a reputation outside of Orange County.
Her appearances at congressional hearings, when she would brandish a whiteboard and grill business leaders and representatives of the Trump administration, frequently went viral. She was one of the top House fundraisers in the most recent election cycle, generating $25.7 million, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures, and her widespread fame became a financial juggernaut.
The tenacity that made Porter the surprise national standout of California’s 2018 House freshman class—and that even early on stoked speculation of a future run for the Senate—was demonstrated by his willingness to publicly challenge party leaders, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).
Feinstein has stated that she has no plans to leave office before her tenure is up, however, it is unknown if she will stand for reelection in 2024. She told The Times that she planned to likely make her intentions known this spring. A request for comment on Tuesday went unanswered by a Feinstein representative.
Her impending retirement is predicted to spark a heated contest among California Democrats. There is a big pool of elected people in the state who are vying for the higher positions but have generally been blocked by seasoned politicians.
Due to the abundance of talent in our state, it will be really interesting, Boxer predicted late last year. When she and Feinstein won the 1992 Senate election, they made history. “I predict that the primary will feature a fierce contest. It will be wonderful.
Feinstein was elected mayor of San Francisco more than 40 years ago after former county supervisor Dan White murdered Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, one of the country’s first gay government leaders.
In an interview with The Times, Feinstein claimed, “I became mayor as the outcome of assassination.
Liberal Californians have grown tired of her moderate views in recent years, including her support for the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, which expanded federal surveillance powers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, her opposition to single-payer healthcare, and her initial appeal for “patience” with Republican Donald Trump’s presidency.
Feinstein has long been regarded as having one of the best minds on Capitol Hill, but now claims that her memory is failing have been made. She turned down the position of Senate president pro tempore, which has traditionally been given to the most senior member of the majority party and places the holder third in the presidential succession.
Reps. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, Barbara Lee of Oakland, Ro Khanna of Fremont, and Eric Swalwell of Dublin, as well as Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, are a few more probable candidates for the Senate seat in addition to Porter.
He stated, “California is currently experiencing tremendous storms and flooding, and my region is currently experiencing historic weather conditions. My attention is on that. I’ll choose in the coming months.
In light of a potential Senate bid, Schiff claimed he had decided against running for a leadership position in the House.
He told NBC-Los Angeles in November that he was “exploring” the possibility of running for the Senate if Sen. Feinstein decides not to seek reelection in two years.
In response to the severe weather pounding the state, a close friend of Schiff told The Times on Tuesday that his top goal is to aid in relief efforts, “not run for Senate in the face of a natural disaster where people are dead.”
Porter disagreed, arguing that the storms in California highlight the grave dangers that climate change and elected leaders who are tied to the oil business and corporate PAC money pose to the country.
The moment has come, she said, “to transform Washington because we have gone from one catastrophe to another and another in my time in Congress.” And we have run out of justifications to delay that.