CALIF. DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATES MAKE PITCHES

Four vying for endorsement at party convention

California’s Democratic U.S. Senate candidates tried to out-progressive each other during the state party convention on Saturday in search of a formal endorsement ahead of the March primary.

U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, as well as former tech executive Lexi Reese all pleaded for votes from hundreds of party delegates at the California Democratic Party’s endorsing convention. They are all vying for the seat now held by Sen. Laphonza Butler, who was appointed when longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein died in September. Butler is not running for the seat and will step down when her term expires in early 2025.

The bar for a formal endorsement — 60 percent of the vote — is likely out of reach given the top three candidates are all sitting members of Congress with large bases of support. But the vote will offer a glimpse of how the party faithful views the top candidates, two of whom could meet in a head-to-head matchup in the general election should no Republican garner enough support to advance past the primary.

California’s primary system allows candidates of all parties to compete on one ballot, sending the top two vote-getters to the general election regardless of party. The state’s last two U.S. Senate races — in 2016 and 2018 — each featured two Democrats.

“Even in the absence of an endorsement, to gain the support of some of the most loyal and active activist Democrats in the state — they are a force multiplier,” Schiff said. “They are totally in it. They knock on doors, they send postcards, they text, they are the kind of beating heart of the party.”

All four candidates spoke to delegates during an afternoon session that was interrupted multiple times by demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-hamas war. Demonstrators, many who were also holding Barbara Lee campaign signs, chanted “cease-fire now!” during the closing comments by both Schiff and Porter. Another group of protesters disrupted Reese’s speech and refused to leave, continuing to chant for several minutes as the convention hall emptied.

A spokesperson for the protest described demonstrators as nearly 100 youth, workers and Democratic volunteers. Aylet Hasachar, one of the leaders of the cease-fire demonstrators, said they disrupted the convention because “most Democratic representatives are not respecting the very fierce desire” of constituents who want a cease-fire.

Lee is in the best position to benefit from the division of some party activists over Israel’s response to the Hamas attack.

Lee is known for being the lone member of congress to vote against war in Afghanistan in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. She ended her remarks on Saturday by calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, to loud cheers from delegates and others in attendance.

While Lee is unlikely to garner enough support on Saturday to win the party’s formal endorsement, a strong showing could reenergize her campaign. Schiff is widely seen as the frontrunner, leading the candidates in fundraising and boasting a pack of influential endorsements. Public polling, generally, has Porter second and Lee third. But a large chunk of voters is still undecided, making the race far from a sure thing.