In a long-anticipated decision, California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein officially announced Tuesday she won’t seek reelection in 2024.
Even before the veteran senator made her retirement official, the machinations had already begun to replace the 89-year-old. While the seat is virtually assured to stay in Democratic hands, this will be one of the marquee intraparty battles of the cycle—and one that will likely go all the way to November, given California’s top-two primary system.
Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and Los Angeles Rep. Adam Schiff have already announced their candidacy, with Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee expected to join the fray soon.
Expect this to be the most competitive California Senate race in more than 30 years. Both Feinstein and Barbara Boxer were elected in 1992, and then-Attorney General Kamala Harris won a relatively easy race over Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez in 2016 to succeed Boxer. When Harris, just the second Black woman ever elected to the Senate, ascended to the vice presidency in 2021, then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla was tapped by Gov. Gavin Newsom to become the
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