Calif. Democratic Party won't endorse Feinstein
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein failed to win the offifficial endorsement of the California Democratic Party as she seeks term, another sign the party is divided over how best to battle Republicans in Washington. Democratic activists were eager to back her primary challenger, state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, who is touting himself as a fresh face with stronger progressive credentials, particularly on immigration. However, he too failed to earn the 60 percent support needed to win the endorsement Saturday at Democrats’ annual convention. That means candidate will get the party’s seal of approval or campaign cash leading into June primary. With Democrats still licking their wounds from the 2016 election, some of the party’ s biggest stars, including U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, urged unity ahead of the midterm elections. They reminded more than 3,000 activists gathered this weekend that President Donald Trump is their common enemy. Though ty activists rebuked Feinstein, she has millions of dollars to run a successful campaign polling has shown she enjoys wide support among Democratic voters and independents, a critical of the electorate in a race without a Republican. The top-two primary system in heavily Democratic California allows the two highest vote-getters to advance to the general election regardless of party identifification. It’s the time Feinstein, 84, failed to win the party’s backing since her successful U.S. Senate campaign in 1994, she’s lacked a credible Democratic lenger in previous races. Delegates who withheld their support they think Feinstein has been in Washington too long and hasn’t stood strong enough for immigrants. When she spoke lon- ger than her allotted time, some in crowd chanted “Time’s up!” — referring to her lengthy tenure in Congress. Thirty-seven percent of Democrats backed Feinstein, while 54 percent supported de Leon. He called it “an astounding rejection of politics as usual” and a boost to his campaign’s momentum. De Leon didn’t appear to support despite a sexual misconduct scandal at California Capitol during his leadership. His former roommate, Tony Mendoza, resigned Thursday after an investigation concluded he likely sexually harassed six women. De Leon had called for to be expelled. Mendoza is running for re-election but failed to win the party’s backing this weekend. F einstein supporters, meanwhile, said her long track record as a fighter for Democrats women makes her the party’s best choice. “She has so much seniority, it’s hard to give that up,” said Cathy Jorgensen, a delegate from the farm-rich Central Valley.