Butting heads on Trump, other policies

Former President Donald Trump's influence has loomed large in the race, and may be here to stay.

Schiff has fundraised off Trump's name, touting his role leading the first impeachment trial against Trump in 2020. He has cashed in on Trump's attacks on him and the vote by a Republican-controlled House to censure Schiff over his comment during investigations into Trump's ties to Russia.

On Tuesday, he wore it as a badge of honor.

“At the urging and badgering of Donald Trump, the Republicans censured me for holding him accountable,” he said during his victory speech. “And then Trump would attack me rally after rally. And I think all those things were basically what we would call Wednesday.”

That record gained him votes among Democratic voters in this race. Ben James, a 38-year-old hotel engineering manager in Sacramento, said that was the main reason he chose Schiff over Porter.

“We have to do anything we can to prevent (Trump's presidency) from happening again,” James said.

Garvey — who said he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 — has so far declined to say whether he would support Trump in November, arguing it's his “personal choice.” But Schiff's campaign has portrayed Garvey as a far right candidate associated with Trump in his ad blitz.

“All people know about him is that he stands with Trump, because that's what the Adam Schiff commercials will make it look like,” Kousser said.

Garvey's vague stance on Trump, however, has not hurt his chances with Republicans, Kousser noted.

While some Republican candidates in California can't afford to criticize Trump due to their deepred base, in a statewide race, “you can't win a general election in California as the Donald Trump candidate,” he said.