2024 United States Senate elections in California explained

Election Name:2024 United States Senate election in California
Country:California
Type:presidential
Ongoing:yes
Previous Election:2018 United States Senate election in California
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2030 United States Senate election in California
Next Year:2030
Election Date:November 5, 2024
1Blank:Regular election
2Blank:Special election
Image1:Adam Schiff official portrait (crop 3).jpg
Candidate1:Adam Schiff
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Candidate2:Steve Garvey
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
U.S. senator
Before Election:Laphonza Butler
Before Party:Democratic

The 2024 United States Senate elections in California will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of California. There will be two ballot items for the same Class 1 seat: a special election to fill the seat for the final weeks of the 118th United States Congress (ending on January 3, 2025), and a general election for a full term that starts on January 3, 2025, starting in the 119th United States Congress. California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary, in which all candidates regardless of party affiliation appear on the same primary ballot and the two highest-placing candidates advance to the general election; however, special election winners can win outright if they win more than 50% of the vote in the first round.[1]

Incumbent Senator Laphonza Butler was appointed to the Senate by Gavin Newsom in October 2023 after fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein died in office. Two Democratic U.S. representatives, Katie Porter of Irvine and Adam Schiff of Los Angeles, entered the race before Feinstein announced that she would retire at the end of her term. A third, Barbara Lee of Oakland, announced her campaign on February 21, 2023. On October 19, 2023, Butler announced that she would not seek election to either a full Senate term or to finish the final two months of Feinstein's term.[2]

Primary elections took place on March 5, 2024, during Super Tuesday.[3] Schiff advanced to the general election in both the regular and special elections, along with Republican former baseball player Steve Garvey. The winner will become the first male U.S. senator from this seat since John Seymour left office in 1992, and will also make California one of several states to have a younger senior senator and an older junior senator.[4]

Background

California is considered to be a safe blue state at the federal and state levels, with Joe Biden winning the state by a margin of 29.16% in the 2020 presidential election. Democrats currently hold a large majority in California's U.S. House delegation, all statewide offices (including both U.S. Senate seats), and supermajorities in both of California’s state legislative chambers.

Prior to the 2024 election, senator Dianne Feinstein had served in Congress since being elected in the 1992 special election, defeating Republican appointee John Seymour. During her career, she was re-elected five times, winning in 1994, 2000, 2006, 2012, and most recently in 2018, where she defeated fellow Democrat Kevin de León with 54.2% of the vote. At the time of her death, Feinstein was the most senior Democrat in the Senate, and is the longest serving U.S. senator in California's history.

Candidates

Democratic Party

Advanced to general

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Republican Party

Advanced to general

Eliminated in primary

Write-in candidates

Declined

Libertarian Party

Eliminated in primary

American Independent Party

Eliminated in primary

No party preference

Eliminated in primary

Write-in candidates

Declined

Primary elections

Campaign

Schiff, Porter, and Lee declare

Media sources speculated for years that Dianne Feinstein might choose not to seek reelection in 2024 or resign before the end of her term, owing to her age, reports that her cognitive state was declining, and her decision not to take the position of Senate president pro tempore in the 118th Congress, third in line for the presidency, even though she would customarily have been offered the role as the most senior member of the majority caucus. There was also speculation that Feinstein might face opposition within the Democratic Party as she did in 2018, when she was challenged by fellow Democrat Kevin de León and defeated him by an unexpectedly narrow margin.[42] In December 2022, Feinstein confirmed that she would not resign before the end of her term.[43]

In January 2023, with the question of Feinstein's reelection decision still open, U.S. Representative Katie Porter announced that she would run for the Senate. She confirmed that she would stay in the race even if Feinstein chose to run for another term.[11] Porter was first elected in 2018, unseating incumbent Mimi Walters. She later gained national fame for her progressive politics, and frequently went viral for her pointed questioning of corporate executives in congressional hearings, often while using a whiteboard.[44] Porter's coastal, Orange County-based district is considered highly competitive, and all of her elections have been close.[45]

Two weeks later, Porter was joined by another Democratic member of the House, Adam Schiff, who said that he had consulted with Feinstein before entering the race.[5] A moderate[46] Democrat who unseated incumbent James Rogan in 2000, Schiff's profile rose significantly during the presidency of Donald Trump, owing to his role as a lead impeachment manager in the first impeachment of Donald Trump, his service on the January 6 Committee, and his frequent appearances on MSNBC.[47] Schiff has not faced a competitive election since 2000, as his Los Angeles-based district became significantly more Democratic during the 2000 redistricting cycle and has been considered a safe seat ever since.[48]

A third Democratic House member, Barbara Lee, reportedly told members of the Congressional Black Caucus in January that she would also run for the Senate.[49] As she was already 76 years old in January 2023, Lee reportedly pitched herself to donors as a transitional senator who would serve only one term.[50] A longtime progressive first elected in a 1998 special election, Lee is known for being the only member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001, which led to military deployment in Afghanistan and several other countries.[51] Lee filed to run for Senate in early February 2023 and formally announced her campaign later that month.[52] [7] Lee's district, based in Alameda County and including one of the state's largest cities in Oakland, is one of the most Democratic-leaning districts in the entire country.[53]

Feinstein continued to demur on her reelection plans, at one point saying she would not announce her decision until 2024.[54] But in February 2023, she confirmed that she would retire, ending a political career that spanned over 50 years.[55] The 2024 election is only the second California Senate race without an incumbent since 1992, the other being the 2016 election following Barbara Boxer's retirement. However, Politico pointed out that the 2016 election had an "early and prohibitive frontrunner" in Kamala Harris while the 2024 election has no clear frontrunner, and thus considers the 2024 election the first truly open California Senate race in 32 years.[56]

Early months of the race

Lee, Porter, and Schiff have similar voting records in Congress and similarly progressive platforms. As a result, they were expected to differentiate themselves by their life stories and individual strengths rather than their ideologies. All three have faced controversies that could damage their campaigns: Porter has been accused of mistreating congressional staff, Lee's age was seen as a potential issue, and Schiff was expected to face opposition from progressives due to his past support for overseas military intervention and for taking donations from groups affiliated with the oil, payday loan, and pharmaceutical industries, though he has declared he would not accept funds from corporate PACs in his Senate campaign.[57] [58] Schiff has also been criticized for listing his primary residence as Montgomery County, Maryland, in tax documents, though his campaign maintains that he lives in Burbank, California.[59] Other important factors include geography, as Schiff and Porter both represent southern California while Lee represents northern California, and diversity; a victory by Schiff would leave California with no female senators for the first time since 1992, while a victory by Lee would make her only the fourth black woman to serve in the Senate .[58] [60]

Schiff began 2023 with $20.6 million in his campaign account compared to $7.7 million for Porter and just under $55,000 for Lee.[61] All three quickly began raising large sums of money; for example, in the first 24 hours of her campaign, Porter raised over $1.3 million.[62] The three also launched super PACs to aid with fundraising, each competing for the top California fundraising firms and consultants. Former Federal Election Commission chair Ann Ravel predicted that the race would be one of the most expensive Senate elections in history.[63] The expensive nature of the race led media sources to speculate that a wealthy candidate could run a competitive self-funded campaign, akin to Rick Caruso's campaign in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election.[64] This scenario seemed to come to pass when former Google executive Lexi Reese joined the race in June 2023; her aides told Politico she would spend a "significant" amount of her own money on her campaign.[65] However, Reese made little impact on the race and dropped out months later; though she raised $2 million, much of it self-funded, she wrote that this was "just not enough to run a state-wide campaign."[15]

Throughout most of 2023, there were no prominent Republicans in the race. This has been attributed to California's heavy Democratic lean and Republican donors' wariness of the high cost of running a statewide campaign in California; GOP strategist Duane Dichiara estimated that a Republican would need at least $80 million to run a viable Senate campaign. Additionally, California's top-two primary system may allow two Democrats to advance to the general election, a scenario that played out in the 2016 and 2018 Senate races, though the three-way division in the 2024 Democratic field could help a Republican reach the general election. Republicans would also benefit from the fact that the 2024 California Republican presidential primary, held on the same day as the Senate primary, was expected to be hotly contested and entice Republican voters to turn out in higher numbers.[41] [66]

Feinstein's death and replacement

Feinstein faced calls to resign throughout 2023 due to reports of her declining health, including from U.S. Representative Ro Khanna. She declined to do so.[67] California governor Gavin Newsom had previously committed to appointing a black woman to the Senate if a seat opened up, after facing controversy due to appointing Alex Padilla to the seat left behind by Kamala Harris after she was elected vice president.[68] Possible appointees speculated by media sources included Barbara Lee, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, San Francisco mayor London Breed, Los Angeles County supervisor Holly Mitchell, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and talk show host Oprah Winfrey, though Bass, Mitchell, and Winfrey said they would not be interested.[68] [69] In September 2023, Newsom confirmed he would fulfill his promise to appoint a black woman, but said he would not appoint any candidate running to succeed Feinstein, and would instead appoint someone who committed not to run for a full term. Lee, the only black woman in the race, responded, "the idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election."[70] Lee faced backlash for her comments, with several advisors to Newsom leaving her super PAC.[71] Newsom argued that the question of a Senate vacancy was "a hypothetical on top of a hypothetical," believing that Feinstein would not leave office before her term ended.[72]

Feinstein died later that month, on September 29, 2023.[73] Newsom was expected to quickly appoint a successor, as a crisis over a potential government shutdown necessitated a united Democratic front in the Senate. A special election for Feinstein's seat will also be held concurrently with the regular 2024 election.[74] In addition to those already mentioned, possible successors speculated by media sources included PolicyLink founder Angela Glover Blackwell, former state assemblywoman Autumn Burke, EMILYs List director Laphonza Butler, State Controller Malia Cohen, California Supreme Court justice Leondra Kruger, Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors president Lateefah Simon, and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters.[75] [76] [77] [78] Waters and California State Board of Education president Linda Darling-Hammond said they were not interested in the appointment.[79] Congressional Black Caucus chair Steven Horsford sent a letter to Newsom on behalf of the caucus that urged him to appoint Lee.[80]

On October 1, Newsom appointed Butler to the Senate, with no conditions about whether she may run in 2024.[81] Butler formerly served as president of SEIU Local 2015, the largest union in California, and on the University of California Board of Regents. She is openly lesbian, making her California's first openly LGBTQ Senator and the first openly LGBTQ black woman to serve in Congress.[82] Butler's appointment was controversial, with many pointing out that she was registered to vote in Maryland at the time. Butler responded that she lived in California for many years before moving to the D.C. metropolitan area in 2021; she pointed out that she still owned a home in Los Angeles and promised to re-register in California.[83] Butler was also criticized for advising Uber as it lobbied against a 2019 California bill to classify rideshare drivers as employees. In response, she maintained that she personally supported the bill.[84] At first, Butler left open the question of whether she would run for a full term, but on October 19, she said she would not join the 2024 race.[2]

Later events in 2023

On October 10, 2023, Republicans gained a prominent candidate when former professional baseball player Steve Garvey entered the race. Garvey, who played for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, was considered to have an advantage in name recognition. Two other Republican candidates, healthcare executive James Bradley and attorney Eric Early, both of whom had previously made several unsuccessful bids for office, also attracted some media attention and support in polls.[30] Schiff and Porter consistently led in polling throughout the race, with Lee and the Republicans far behind. Lee's poor polling numbers was attributed to a lack of name recognition outside her San Francisco Bay Area constituency, her lack of fundraising compared to Schiff and Porter, and the fact that Schiff and Porter had prior national fame while Lee was less well-known. In November 2023, Lee ruled out withdrawing from the race and insisted she still had a chance.[85] Lee's campaign became much more willing to openly criticize her two main rivals, attempting to define Lee as the most progressive candidate in the race.[71]

On November 18, 2023, the California Democratic Party held its endorsing convention for the Senate race. Lee received the most delegate votes, narrowly outpacing Schiff; however, neither candidate came close to reaching the 60% threshold necessary to win the endorsement.[86] Rumors had circulated that Lee would drop out of the race and run for re-election to the House if she did not receive the party's endorsement, but her campaign reiterated after the convention that she intended on staying in the Senate race.[87]

California Democratic Party Senate endorsement vote (60% required)[88]
CandidateRegular electionSpecial election
Votes%ResultVotes%Result
Barbara Lee96341.47%No endorsement95841.26%No endorsement
Adam Schiff93340.18%92739.92%
Katie Porter37316.06%36115.59%
Lexi Reese30.13%20.09%
Don't endorse502.15%672.89%
Total2,322100.00%2,315100.00%

The 2023 Israel–Hamas war became a late issue in the race, with Lee initially being the only major candidate to call for a ceasefire. The California Democratic Party convention was disrupted by pro-Palestine protests calling for a ceasefire. Protestors entered the main convention arena and shouted, interrupting speeches by Schiff, Porter, and Lexi Reese. Some reportedly chanted the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."[89] While the protest was initially peaceful, it later escalated, with over 1,000 protestors entering the building. Police locked down the building and the rest of the scheduled events that day were cancelled.[90] Porter would later call for a ceasefire the following month.[91]

Final months of the primary

In the months after his announcement, Garvey steadily rose in polling, heightening Republicans' odds of getting a candidate through to the general election.[92] Garvey largely avoided taking positions on political issues, spent no money on television ads, and did little in-person campaigning.[93] In the new year, Schiff's campaign began airing television ads that contrasted his positions with Garvey's. Porter accused Schiff of trying to prevent her from reaching the general election by boosting Garvey; she alleged that the ads, which labeled Garvey as too conservative, were intended to enamor Garvey to Republican voters. Due to the nonpartisan blanket primary, it is a common tactic for front-running candidates to boost the second place candidate whom they feel they can defeat most easily; Schiff's campaign denied that this was his intention.[94] Supporters of Schiff also independently purchased a similar anti-Garvey ad which ran on Fox News, despite Schiff previously calling for a boycott of the network.[95] Porter later began airing similar ads against another Republican, Eric Early. These ads were seen as an effort to split the Republican vote and help Porter clinch the second general election spot, though Porter denied this.[96]

Politico, FOX 11 Los Angeles, and USC Dornsife held a debate on January 22, 2024, which included Schiff, Porter, Lee, and Garvey.[97] The debate largely consisted of the Democrats attacking Garvey for his past support of Trump and questioning Garvey's support of him in 2024, and the differing viewpoints of the four in the Israel-Hamas war. The stance of all candidates towards congressional earmarks, which Porter strongly opposes, also was a key topic.[98]

Nexstar Media Group television stations aired a debate on February 12 featuring the same four candidates.[99] Key highlights include the candidates being asked whether they would support certifying the election should a candidate of the other party win the presidency, rising crime, the minimum wage, corporate donations in political campaigns, and the federal role in housing.[100] [101]

KNBC and KVEA aired a debate in conjunction with Loyola Marymount University on February 20, which was broadcast on NBCUniversal-owned stations statewide and on KCRA, Sacramento's NBC affiliate.[102] Topics included the minimum wage, the federal budget deficit, military spending, the Mexico–United States border crisis, climate change, extending the life of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, and the proposed regulation of artificial intelligence.[103]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
James
Bradley (R)
Eric
Early (R)
Steve
Garvey (R)
Barbara
Lee (D)
Katie
Porter (D)
Adam
Schiff (D)
OtherUndecided
Emerson CollegeFebruary 24–27, 20241,000 (LV)± 3.0%2%2%20%8%17%28%6%17%
UC Berkeley IGSFebruary 22–26, 20243,304 (LV)± 2.0%2%2%27%8%19%25%8%9%
WPA Intelligence (R)February 19–21, 2024800 (LV)± 3.5%4%24%10%15%27%3%17%
Emerson CollegeFebruary 16–18, 2024935 (LV)± 3.1%2%2%22%9%16%28%2%17%
Public Policy Institute
of California
February 6–13, 20241,066 (LV)± 3.9%3%4%18%10%19%24%14%6%
USC Dornsife/CSU Long Beach/
Cal Poly Pomona
January 21–29, 20241,416 (LV)± 2.6%1%1%15%7%15%26%2%29%
Emerson CollegeJanuary 11–14, 20241,087 (LV)± 2.9%2%3%18%8%13%25%5%24%
UC Berkeley IGSJanuary 4–8, 20244,470 (LV)± 2.0%3%3%13%9%17%21%13%21%
Morning ConsultDecember 15–19, 2023858 (LV)± 3.0%5%4%15%12%14%26%4%19%
SurveyUSADecember 7–10, 2023590 (LV)± 5.0%5%6%15%12%12%22%8%20%
Public Policy Institute
of California
November 9–16, 20231,113 (LV)± 3.2%10%8%16%21%27%14%
Emerson CollegeNovember 11–14, 20231,000 (RV)± 3.0%3%2%10%9%13%16%8%39%
UC Berkeley IGSOctober 24–30, 20234,506 (LV)± 2.5%7%4%10%9%17%16%7%30%
Public Policy Institute
of California
October 3–19, 20231,395 (LV)± 4.0%5%6%9%18%21%32%8%
Data ViewpointOctober 1, 2023533 (RV)± 4.3%6%4%6%19%19%13.5%32%
Public Policy Institute
of California
August 25 –
September 5, 2023
1,146 (LV)± 3.7%5%5%8%15%20%31%16%
UC Berkeley IGSAugust 24–29, 20234,579 (LV)± 2.5%7%5%7%7%17%20%12%32%
Public Policy Institute
of California
June 7–29, 20231,092 (LV)± 3.8%6%7%13%19%16%33%6%
Emerson CollegeJune 4–7, 20231,056 (RV)± 2.9%6%3%6%14%15%9%47%
UC Berkeley IGSMay 17–22, 20235,236 (LV)± 2.5%18%9%17%14%10%32%
FM3 Research (D)May 13–21, 20231,380 (LV)± 4.0%27%11%24%21%17%
UC Berkeley IGSFebruary 14–20, 20237,512 (RV)± 2.5%8%20%23%10%39%
Ro Khanna vs. Barbara Lee vs. Katie Porter vs. Adam Schiff
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
Ro
Khanna (D)
Barbara
Lee (D)
Katie
Porter (D)
Adam
Schiff (D)
OtherUndecided
UC Berkeley IGSFebruary 14–20, 20237,512 (RV)± 2.5%4%6%20%22%9%39%
David Binder ResearchNovember 19–21, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%6%9%30%29%9%17%
With vs. without Steve Garvey
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
James
Bradley (R)
Eric
Early (R)
Steve
Garvey (R)
Barbara
Lee (D)
Katie
Porter (D)
Lexie
Reese (D)
Adam
Schiff (D)
OtherUndecided
UC Berkeley IGSAug 24–29, 20233,113 (LV)± 2.5%7%5%7%7%17%1%20%4%32%
10%7%7%17%1%20%4%34%

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2024
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
James Bradley (R)$182,626$152,659$30,052
Eric Early (R)$898,233$893,719$4,514
Steve Garvey (R)$5,528,359$3,921,776$1,606,583
Denice Gary-Pandol (R)$129,324$128,482$842
Sarah Sun Liew (R)$48,420$24,977$6,240
Barbara Lee (D)$5,423,501$5,093,171$330,330
Christina Pascucci (D)$456,534$456,534$0
Katie Porter (D)$31,536,915$30,960,241$576,674
Perry Pound (D)$34,129$29,350$4,778
Lexi Reese (D)$2,016,597$1,810,020$206,577
Adam Schiff (D)$35,146,126$51,348,262$4,820,824
Source: Federal Election Commission[104]

Debates

2024 United States Senate election in California debates
DateHostModeratorLinkRepublicanDemocraticDemocraticDemocratic
Key:
Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn
Steve GarveyBarbara LeeKatie PorterAdam Schiff
1Jan 22, 2024California Environmental Voters
Education Fund, KFI, KTTV, Politico,
USC Dornsife Center
Melanie Mason
Elex Michaelson
YouTube
2Feb 12, 2024Nexstar Media Group stations:
KTLA, KSWB-TV, KRON-TV,
KTXL, KSEE, KGET-TV
Frank Buckley
Nikki Laurenzo
YouTube
3Feb 20, 2024Loyola Marymount University
KNBC / KVEA
Colleen Williams
Conan Nolan
Alejandra Ortiz
YouTube

Aftermath

After her loss, Porter remarked that the election was "rigged by billionaires," referring to a $10 million independent ad campaign attacking her that was funded by cryptocurrency supporters.[105] Porter's use of the word "rigged" was criticized, with some comparing her statement to Donald Trump's false claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Porter expressed regret for use of the word "rigged" and said that she meant to say that the election was "manipulated by dishonest means" which was a reference to the use of dark money in campaign financing, and not to mean that there was anything illegitimate about the vote counting.[106] [107]

General elections

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
align=left The Cook Political Report[108] November 9, 2023
align=left Inside Elections[109] November 9, 2023
align=left Sabato's Crystal Ball[110] November 9, 2023
align=left Decision Desk HQ/The Hill[111] June 8, 2024
align=left Elections Daily[112] May 4, 2023
align=left CNalysis[113] November 21, 2023

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2024
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Adam Schiff (D)$35,146,126$51,348,262$4,820,824
Steve Garvey (R)$5,528,359$3,921,776$1,606,583
Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Adam
Schiff (D)
Steve
Garvey (R)
Undecided
ActiVoteJuly 16 – August 12, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%66%34%
UC BerkeleyJuly 31– August 11, 20243,765 (LV)± 2.0%53%33%14%
Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaJune 24 – July 2, 20241,261 (LV)± 3.7%64%33%3%
Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaMay 23 – June 2, 20241,098 (LV)± 3.9%62%37%1%
Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaMarch 19–25, 20241,089 (LV)± 3.9%61%37%2%
UC BerkeleyFebruary 22–26, 20243,304 (LV)± 2.0%53%38%9%
Katie Porter vs. Adam Schiff
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Katie
Porter (D)
Adam
Schiff (D)
Undecided
UC BerkeleyFebruary 22–26, 20243,304 (LV)± 2.0%30%30%40%
David Binder ResearchNovember 19–21, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%37%26%37%
Katie Porter vs. Steve Garvey

Results

Notes

Partisan clients

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. News: California Secretary of State . February 16, 2024 . Primary Elections in California.
  2. Web site: Laphonza Butler Will Not Run for Senate in 2024 . October 19, 2023 . Hubler . Shawn . . October 19, 2023.
  3. Web site: 2024 State Primary Election Dates . August 6, 2023 . www.ncsl.org.
  4. News: Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey advance to the general election in California's Senate race . . Sahil . Kapur . March 5, 2024 . March 5, 2024 .
  5. Web site: Mason . Melanie . January 26, 2023 . California Rep. Adam Schiff enters marquee Senate race . January 26, 2023 . . en-US.
  6. Web site: La Jolla Shores resident Sepi Gilani announces U.S. Senate run . La Jolla Light . Mackin-Solomon . Ashley . November 13, 2023 . November 14, 2023.
  7. News: February 21, 2023 . Barbara Lee, a Longtime Congresswoman, Announces a Run for Senate in California . . Ulloa . Jazmine . Epstein . Reid J. .
  8. News: . May 15, 2024 . Fortinsky. Sarah . May 9, 2024. Former rivals Lee, Porter throw support behind Schiff in California.
  9. News: . October 18, 2023 . Cadelago . Christopher . October 18, 2023 . Christina Pascucci, TV anchor, is running for Senate in California.
  10. News: September 22, 2023 . September 22, 2023 . California Senate Candidate Roundup: September 22, 2023. Diamond Eye Candidate Report . Frisk . Garrett .
  11. Web site: Schallhorn . Kaitlyn . January 10, 2023 . Rep. Katie Porter launches a U.S. Senate bid . January 10, 2023 . Orange County Register . en-US.
  12. News: . May 15, 2024 . Fortinsky. Sarah . May 9, 2024. Former rivals Lee, Porter throw support behind Schiff in California.
  13. Web site: Frisk . Garrett . March 28, 2023 . Who Else is Running for U.S. Senate in California Besides the Big Three? . Diamond Eye Candidate Report . September 29, 2023.
  14. News: Frisk . Garrett . California House Candidate Roundup: May 11, 2023 . Diamond Eye Candidate Report . May 11, 2023 . May 13, 2023.
  15. Web site: Garofoli . Joe . Silicon Valley exec Lexi Reese ends California Senate campaign . . November 28, 2023 . November 28, 2023.
  16. News: Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 2/8 . February 8, 2023 . Daily Kos.
  17. Web site: Gligich . Daniel . May 12, 2023 . Bonta issues dual endorsement in 2024 Senate battle . May 13, 2023 . The San Joaquin Valley Sun . en-US.
  18. Web site: Rose Dickey . Megan . Bastone . Nick . Mayor London Breed opposes her extra year in office . November 14, 2022 . . November 14, 2022 . en.
  19. News: Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 2/21 . February 21, 2023 . February 21, 2023 . Two other people who had been mentioned as possible contenders, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, did take themselves out of the running on Tuesday by endorsing Lee. . . Singer, Jeff.
  20. Web site: Morris . J. D. . Moench . Mallory . March 23, 2023 . S.F. Mayor Breed may have a challenger in next year's election. Here's who is looking to run . March 24, 2023 . San Francisco Chronicle . en-US.
  21. Web site: Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna announces he won't seek California Senate seat, endorses Rep. Barbara Lee . March 26, 2023 . . March 26, 2023 . en.
  22. Web site: Cadelago . Christopher . Eleni Kounalakis first to launch campaign for California governor in 2026 . . April 24, 2023 . April 24, 2023.
  23. Web site: Willon . Phil . November 18, 2022 . California's 2024 U.S. Senate race could be a hot one . April 5, 2023 . . en-US.
  24. Web site: Former California Controller Betty Yee says she will run to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026 . Bollag . Sophia . April 24, 2023 . April 24, 2023 . San Francisco Chronicle.
  25. Web site: Rep. Katie Porter announces bid for Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat . January 10, 2023 . . Mehta, Seema . McCaskill, Nolan D..
  26. News: Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 2/16. February 16, 2023 .
  27. News: Column: Feinstein won't step down early. But when she does, these contenders have the best shot at her seat . December 19, 2022 . Skelton, George . . January 3, 2023.
  28. News: Diamond Eye Candidate Report . Frisk . Garrett . July 21, 2023 . July 21, 2023 . We Asked Every Member of the House if They're Running in 2024. Here's What They Said..
  29. Web site: Would Oprah replace Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate? Her rep says no . . May 25, 2023 . May 25, 2023 . Nelson . Laura J..
  30. News: Former Dodgers star and Republican Steve Garvey enters U.S. Senate race . Mehta . Seema . October 10, 2023 . October 10, 2023 . . limited.
  31. News: CANDIDATES FOR MARCH 5, 2024, PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION . California Secretary of State . December 26, 2023 . December 22, 2023 .
  32. News: . May 24, 2024 . GOP attorney Eric Early announces Senate campaign. April 11, 2023 . Mehta, Seema .
  33. Web site: Long Beach RWF to welcome future Senate candidate Denice Gary Pandol to June 11 breakfast meeting . November 18, 2022 . May 16, 2022. Orange County Breeze . https://web.archive.org/web/20221119003428/https://www.oc-breeze.com/2022/05/16/213250_long-beach-rwf-to-welcome-future-senate-candidate-denice-gary-pandol-to-june-11-breakfast-meeting/ . dead . November 19, 2022.
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  35. Web site: Armstrong . Annie . 2023-10-26 . Marfa Invitational's Status as a Charitable Foundation Is Revoked, an Art Collector Runs for U.S. Senate, and More Juicy Art World Gossip . 2023-11-02 . Artnet News . en-US.
  36. Web site: California Secretary of State . February 23, 2024 . February 23, 2024 . Official Certified List of Write-In Candidates.
  37. Web site: The Golden State Watchdog PAC, founded by Lanhee Chen . July 10, 2023 . Golden State Watchdog PAC . en-US . 'I have decided that I will not be a candidate for any office in 2024,' said Chen..
  38. Web site: Larry Elder enters 2024 presidential race . Kelly . Garrity . April 22, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . Politico.
  39. News: Mehta . Seema . Who will replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein? Meet the potential candidates . July 14, 2023 . Los Angeles Times . February 14, 2023.
  40. News: July 17, 2023 . July 11, 2023 . . Sullivan Brennan . Deborah . Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is challenging Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. He may face an uphill battle..
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  42. News: November 18, 2022 . California's 2024 U.S. Senate race could be a hot one . . Willon . Phil .
  43. News: Feinstein says she won't step down early from Senate . December 12, 2022 . McCaskill . Nolan . The Los Angeles Times.
  44. News: Rep. Katie Porter's most viral moments in Congress . Kang, Hanna . January 10, 2023 . The Orange County Register.
  45. Web site: Dave Min for Congress . California's 47th District.
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  49. Web site: Wu . Nicholas . Barbara Lee tells lawmakers she's running for Senate . January 12, 2023 . . January 11, 2023 . en.
  50. Web site: 'We're talking about one term': How Barbara Lee plans to tackle the age question in California Senate race . Joe . Garofoli . January 20, 2023 . San Francisco Chronicle.
  51. News: Who Will Replace Dianne Feinstein? . Brownstein, Ronald . February 3, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . The Atlantic.
  52. News: Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee files bid for open Senate seat in California . . Wright, David . February 16, 2023.
  53. Web site: U.S. House of Representatives . 12th District.
  54. Web site: Exclusive: Sen. Dianne Feinstein won't announce her plans for 2024 — until 2024 . January 26, 2023 . January 26, 2023 . Laslo . Matt . Raw Story . en.
  55. Web site: Shabad . Rebecca . February 14, 2023 . Sen. Dianne Feinstein announces she will retire from Congress . February 14, 2023 . . en.
  56. News: California Dems prepare for fierce Senate battle . February 5, 2023 . . Wu . Nicholas . White . Jeremy.
  57. Web site: Katie Porter and the 'bad boss' problem . Katelyn . Fossett . . January 13, 2023 .
  58. News: These Democrats hoping to replace Feinstein largely agree on policy. So how do they differ? . February 2, 2023 . Mehta . Seema . Los Angeles Times.
  59. Web site: California Senate hopeful Rep. Adam Schiff claimed primary residences in Maryland and California . Andrew . Kaczynski . Em . Steck . . December 2, 2023 . November 2, 2023.
  60. Web site: California Senate race sets up clash of titans . . January 27, 2023 . Seitz-Wald . Alex.
  61. Web site: California's Crowded Senate Primary Race Is Set to Be Most Expensive in History . January 27, 2023 . . Davison . Laura . Breslau . Karen.
  62. Web site: Porter rakes in $1.3M in first 24 hours of Senate bid . Max . Greenwood . January 11, 2023 . The Hill.
  63. Web site: PACs poised to supercharge California Senate campaign . Jeremy B. . White . . February 28, 2023 .
  64. Web site: The California Senate Race Begins With a Scuffle Over Candidates' Progressive Bona Fides . February 16, 2023 . . Tracy, Abigail.
  65. News: Silicon Valley tech executive announces U.S. Senate campaign . . June 29, 2023 . June 29, 2023 . Mehta . Seema.
  66. Web site: California Republicans, buoyed by congressional wins, have no obvious Senate prospects . March 10, 2023 . . Mehta . Seema.
  67. News: . September 29, 2023 . Khanna defends call for Feinstein to resign. Trudo . Hanna . April 13, 2023 .
  68. News: . September 29, 2023 . Newsom faces push to name Black woman to Senate if Feinstein retires . April 13, 2023 . Korte . Lara . Bluth . Rachel.
  69. News: Nelson . Laura . September 29, 2023 . . Would Oprah replace Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate? Her rep says no. May 25, 2023 .
  70. News: September 29, 2023 . . Vazquez . Meagan . September 11, 2023 . Newsom's Senate caretaker plan is 'insulting' to Black women, Rep. Lee says.
  71. News: . September 29, 2023 . September 15, 2023 . Lee's jabs at Newsom cause exodus from her super PAC. Cadelago . Christopher .
  72. News: September 29, 2023 . September 29, 2023 . . Krieg . Gregory . Newsom under pressure over appointing Feinstein's replacement.
  73. News: September 29, 2023 . September 29, 2023 . . Sen. Dianne Feinstein dies at age 90 . Solender . Andrew . Habeshian . Sareen.
  74. News: . September 29, 2023 . September 29, 2023 . Pressure is on Newsom to quickly appoint Feinstein's temporary replacement. White . Jeremy . Mason . Melanie . Cadelago . Christopher .
  75. News: . September 29, 2023 . Feinstein's Death Intensifies Fight for a Coveted California Senate Seat. September 29, 2023 . Nagourney . Adam . Hubler . Shawn .
  76. News: . September 29, 2023 . Gavin Newsom vowed to appoint a Black woman to the Senate. Here's who could replace Dianne Feinstein. Hatch . Jenavieve . Angst . Maggie .
  77. News: Wiley . Hannah . Rosenhall . Laurel . Whom will Newsom pick to replace Dianne Feinstein? Here are some possibilities . September 30, 2023 . . September 29, 2023.
  78. News: Nagourney . Adam . Hubler . Shawn . 2023-09-29 . Feinstein's Death Intensifies Fight for a Coveted California Senate Seat . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-01 . 0362-4331.
  79. News: . September 29, 2023 . Jockeying to replace Feinstein ramps up as Newsom faces pressure to act . September 29, 2023 . Mason . Melanie . White . Jeremy . Cadelago . Christopher.
  80. News: . October 9, 2023 . October 1, 2023 . Congressional Black Caucus urges Calif. Gavin Newsom to appoint Rep. Barbara Lee to Feinstein's seat . Brown-Kaiser . Liz . Tsirkin . Concepcion . Julie . Summer.
  81. Web site: Cadelago . Christopher . 2023-10-01 . Newsom picks Laphonza Butler as Feinstein replacement . 2023-10-02 . POLITICO . en.
  82. News: . October 9, 2023 . Yildirim . Ece . October 3, 2023 . Laphonza Butler makes history as first Black openly lesbian U.S. senator.
  83. News: . October 9, 2023 . Laphonza Butler's Non-California Residence Raises Questions. Phillips . Aleks . October 3, 2023 .
  84. News: . October 9, 2023 . Stein . Shira . October 3, 2023 . Exclusive: California Sen. Laphonza Butler defends consulting work with Uber, living in Maryland.
  85. News: . November 13, 2023 . November 19, 2023 . Holden, Lindsey . Barbara Lee trails badly in California Senate race. Why she's ruling out a return to the House .
  86. Web site: 2023-11-19 . No Senate candidate secures California Dem endorsement, but Rep. Barbara Lee comes in 1st . 2023-11-19 . . en . Beam, Adam.
  87. News: . November 21, 2023 . Gardiner, Dustin . November 21, 2023 . Barbara Lee is down, but definitely not out.
  88. Web site: California Democratic Party . November 21, 2023 . Election Results for November 2023 Endorsing Caucuses. November 19, 2023 .
  89. News: . November 18, 2023 . November 18, 2023 . Gaza conflict upends California Democratic Party convention. White, Jeremy . Mason, Melanie .
  90. News: . November 18, 2023 . November 18, 2023 . California Democratic Party convention locked down amid anti-Israel protests. Oreskes, Benjamin .
  91. News: . December 18, 2023 . December 19, 2023 . Mason, Melanie . In a shift, Katie Porter calls for 'bilateral ceasefire' in Israel-Hamas war.
  92. Web site: 2024-01-07 . GOP's Steve Garvey shakes up Democrat contest for Feinstein's Senate seat . 2024-01-09 . . en-US . Woolfolk, John.
  93. News: Garofoli . Joe . Steve Garvey's 'Seinfeld'-esque campaign strategy: Do nothing, and hope to succeed . 2024-03-10 . San Francisco Chronicle . en.
  94. Web site: 2024-02-01 . Schiff's latest ad boosts Republican Senate rival Steve Garvey. Rep. Katie Porter hates it . 2024-02-03 . . Mehta, Seema . Oreskes, Benjamin . en-US.
  95. Web site: Taylor . Sarah Grace . 2024-02-09 . Schiff super PAC runs ads on Fox News despite his calls for network boycott . 2024-02-10 . POLITICO . en.
  96. News: February 20, 2024 . . Porter defends ad highlighting little-known GOP rival in Senate race. February 17, 2024 . Mehta, Seema .
  97. Web site: Silverstein . William . 2024-01-04 . Senate Debate: Big 3 Dems & Garvey in, Early & Pascucci out . 2024-01-09 . . en.
  98. News: Yu . Yue Stella . 2024-01-23 . What you need to know from the high-stakes U.S. Senate debate . 2024-02-18 . CalMatters . en-US.
  99. Web site: Alex . 2024-01-22 . Nexstar Media's California TV Stations To Host Exclusive Live Debate Between the Top Candidates for U.S. Senator from California . 2024-02-03 . Nexstar Media Group, Inc. . en-US.
  100. News: Yu . Yue Stella . 2024-02-13 . Round two: Garvey, Lee, Porter and Schiff clash at Senate debate . 2024-02-18 . CalMatters . en-US.
  101. Web site: 2024-02-13 . 4 moments from the California U.S. Senate debate that will have people talking . 2024-02-18 . KTLA . en-US. Schlepp, Travis.
  102. Web site: 2024-02-07 . NBC4 and Telemundo 52 to host 2024 US Senate Debate on February 20 . 2024-02-10 . NBC Los Angeles . en-US.
  103. Web site: Ayestas . Jonathan . 2024-02-21 . California's US Senate candidates debated tonight. Get a recap here . 2024-02-21 . KCRA . en.
  104. Web site: 2024 Election United States Senate - California . fec.gov . . February 23, 2024.
  105. News: Lightman . David . Katie Porter continues to claim billionaires 'rigged' California Senate primary . 2024-03-10 . Sacramento Bee . en.
  106. Web site: 2024-03-08 . Katie Porter faces backlash after claiming California Senate race was 'rigged' . 2024-03-10 . ABC7 Los Angeles . en.
  107. News: Porter regrets saying California Senate primary race was 'rigged'. March 19, 2024. Hanna. Trudo. The Hill.
  108. Web site: 2024 Senate Race ratings . January 25, 2023 . Cook Political Report . en.
  109. Web site: January 6, 2023 . January 10, 2023 . Senate Ratings . Inside Elections.
  110. Web site: January 24, 2023 . February 13, 2023 . 2024 Senate . Sabato's Crystal Ball.
  111. Web site: 2024 Senate prediction map . June 8, 2024 . elections2024.thehill.com/ . . June 8, 2024.
  112. Web site: August 1, 2023 . Election Ratings . August 2, 2023 . Elections Daily . en-US.
  113. Web site: '24 Senate Forecast . November 21, 2023 . CNalysis . en-US.