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CoopersDad

(2,180 posts)
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 07:55 PM Feb 2023

Who best to fill Dianne Feinstein's Senate Seat?

Who do DUers think makes for the strongest candidate?

Barbara Lee just announced, third along with Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, so far.

Feinstein, 89, has been in the public eye for more than a half-century, notably since she became San Francisco’s leader after the 1978 assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. In recent years, she has faced mounting questions about her mental acuity and her old-school brand of bipartisanship that is viewed as outdated in today’s bitterly divided era. These factors led Democrats to leap into the race to replace her before she announced her intentions — a move that would previously have been considered impolitic.

Rep. Katie Porter, 49, Democrat

Resume:
The Iowa native is an attorney and a protégé of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, whom Porter met while taking Warren’s bankruptcy law class at Harvard Law School. In 2011, Porter moved to California when she became a law professor at UC Irvine. The following year, then-California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris appointed Porter to be the state’s independent monitor overseeing the state’s share of a $25-billion mortgage settlement with banks.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, 62, Democrat

Resume:
Schiff was born in Massachusetts and moved with his family to Arizona and then California. He was the valedictorian of his 1978 graduating class at Monte Vista High School in Danville high school, where his classmates voted him most likely to succeed. After attending Stanford University and Harvard Law School, Schiff became a federal prosecutor. Among his most prominent cases was prosecuting an FBI agent who became a Russian spy.

Rep. Barbara Lee, 76, Democrat

Resume:
Lee has a deep history of political activism, dating back to when she was a college student at Mills College. She worked on the 1972 presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to hold a seat in Congress, and on Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale’s mayoral race in Oakland the following year.

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-02-14/california-senate-candidates-feinstein-porter-schiff-lee-khanna


Others are named in the article, and there's more in that article more about each of the three listed above.
44 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Who best to fill Dianne Feinstein's Senate Seat? (Original Post) CoopersDad Feb 2023 OP
Katie Porter montanacowboy Feb 2023 #1
Given her age and the time she has to become even sharper... CoopersDad Feb 2023 #7
I agree. I wish I could vote for her. Maybe for president someday. jimfields33 Feb 2023 #10
yup. Voltaire2 Feb 2023 #28
I really admire these two women Bayard Feb 2023 #2
Going with Schiff - deepest resume. tinrobot Feb 2023 #3
Yes I think so FakeNoose Feb 2023 #12
Lee voted against war in Afghanistan. That took incredible courage. Auggie Feb 2023 #4
Why was Afghanistan the "right" vote? brooklynite Feb 2023 #37
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Feb 2023 #5
If I lived in CA iemanja Feb 2023 #6
How fortunate to have so many excellent candidates. Raven123 Feb 2023 #8
I hate to see them pitted against each other jmbar2 Feb 2023 #9
I like all 3. Favorite would probably be Porter, but.. mvd Feb 2023 #11
Katie Lee-Schiff maxsolomon Feb 2023 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Feb 2023 #15
Whoever the people of California decide... WarGamer Feb 2023 #14
Adam Schiff milestogo Feb 2023 #16
Adam Schiff! Cha Feb 2023 #17
I have not yet decided, not even close to doing so. Celerity Feb 2023 #18
Almost embarrassing wealth of riches. Prairie_Seagull Feb 2023 #19
My adult children deRien Feb 2023 #20
Schiff mcar Feb 2023 #21
Katie Porter, she is not in a safe seat and Schiff is. Emile Feb 2023 #22
Schiff and Lee are very redoubtable achievers with very real records Hortensis Feb 2023 #23
Very good points. CoopersDad Feb 2023 #33
Who's seat would be most vulnerable if they left? Duppers Feb 2023 #24
Who's seat would be most vulnerable if they left? Duppers Feb 2023 #25
Porter, not even close. tritsofme Feb 2023 #27
I don't live in California, and won't dwell on what for me are some very obvious negatives, so.... DFW Feb 2023 #26
I'm not Californianj, any one of them would be acceptable... Bucky Feb 2023 #29
Hear, hear. n/t Not Heidi Mar 2023 #44
Do all three need to give up their House reelection campaign ... JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2023 #30
You cannot run for 2 offices simultaneously Mordred Feb 2023 #32
All pretty good choices Johonny Feb 2023 #31
Katie Hill Polybius Feb 2023 #34
This message was self-deleted by its author ananda Feb 2023 #35
Schiff and Lee are in safe house seats, Katie is not Emile Feb 2023 #36
Lee is too old... brooklynite Feb 2023 #38
I know that this sounds ageist, but Deep State Witch Feb 2023 #39
Our congress average age is very old, older than ever. CoopersDad Feb 2023 #40
Definitely Katie Porter womanofthehills Feb 2023 #41
Porter but I think Schiff wins the seat RANDYWILDMAN Feb 2023 #42
This message was self-deleted by its author Not Heidi Mar 2023 #43

montanacowboy

(6,053 posts)
1. Katie Porter
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 07:58 PM
Feb 2023

hands down - she knows her stuff, is smart as a whip, and totally progressive and much younger than the others.

tinrobot

(10,848 posts)
3. Going with Schiff - deepest resume.
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 08:07 PM
Feb 2023

Experience as a prosecutor, chair of the intelligence committee, plus his roles on impeachment and the Jan 6th commission, among others.



FakeNoose

(32,356 posts)
12. Yes I think so
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 08:57 PM
Feb 2023

He'd make an awesome Senator. So would Ms. Porter but we need her in the House right now.

If I lived in California I'd vote for Adam Schiff.

Auggie

(31,068 posts)
4. Lee voted against war in Afghanistan. That took incredible courage.
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 08:10 PM
Feb 2023

Huge points in my book.

It'll be a tough decision.

brooklynite

(93,879 posts)
37. Why was Afghanistan the "right" vote?
Sun Feb 19, 2023, 01:39 PM
Feb 2023

I can understand Iraq, but we were attacked by a terrorist organization that was given protection and support by the undemocratic government of Afghanistan. I had no objection to sending in troops.

Response to CoopersDad (Original post)

jmbar2

(4,832 posts)
9. I hate to see them pitted against each other
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 08:45 PM
Feb 2023

They are all stellar. Hope they don't tear at each other.

mvd

(65,148 posts)
11. I like all 3. Favorite would probably be Porter, but..
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 08:51 PM
Feb 2023

have to think about her seat being in danger. I still would vote Porter but would be very happy with the others.

maxsolomon

(32,992 posts)
13. Katie Lee-Schiff
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 09:02 PM
Feb 2023

I admire Schiff to no end, but Porter has lower mileage at 49. Could serve 6 terms.

Regardless, it's not my decision. Not in CA.

Response to maxsolomon (Reply #13)

WarGamer

(12,106 posts)
14. Whoever the people of California decide...
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 09:04 PM
Feb 2023

I'm leaning Porter, we don't need two men representing Ca in the Senate.

I'm also fine with Lee...

deRien

(164 posts)
20. My adult children
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 09:30 PM
Feb 2023

in their 40's would go for Porter whereas I would go for Schiff. Wonder if this is a generational thing?

Emile

(21,916 posts)
22. Katie Porter, she is not in a safe seat and Schiff is.
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 09:45 PM
Feb 2023

I would prefer someone young enough who could be in the Senate for many years.

We can"t afford to lose Katie. That said my vote would be Katie Porter for the senate.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
23. Schiff and Lee are very redoubtable achievers with very real records
Fri Feb 17, 2023, 10:12 PM
Feb 2023

of achievement. I'd vote for either, but Lee's con of perhaps being "too liberal" could turn out to be a grave problem.

As said, senate candidates have to appeal to whole states, which is why our senate caucus is far more solidly moderate liberal than the more diverse house. At this point I expect Schiff to win and am glad we have him.

I was really struck, btw, by author Seema Mehta's choices for Katie Porter's cons -- that she has to do some extra fundraising (something she's good at) and that she announced her candidacy during a passing crisis. One's a real but handleable problem of a type all candidates face and the other's a real nothingburger. She mentioned issues related to ideology and past records for the others.

Porter's cons of course include that she's not yet even close to being the same kind of can-do heavy hitter as Schiff and Lee. She still has to find her feet in the house. She's very talented at causing some to believe in her personally, but she's not a significant force for change in congress. Not yet.

Another con will be similar to Lee's -- she'll be hit as "far left." She already is and barely held onto her seat. And possibly her association with some among the illiberal left who have unsavory records of attacks on Democrats will be used to smear her. Ms. Mehta might have mentioned this since, though the Republicans will undoubtedly go after ALL our candidates as radical socialists etc, she and Barbara Lee will be especially vulnerable.

Duppers

(28,094 posts)
25. Who's seat would be most vulnerable if they left?
Sat Feb 18, 2023, 04:57 AM
Feb 2023

That's my main concern.

We must not let any Repubs gain ANY seats anywhere.

DFW

(54,057 posts)
26. I don't live in California, and won't dwell on what for me are some very obvious negatives, so....
Sat Feb 18, 2023, 05:22 AM
Feb 2023

I'll just say that Adam Schiff would be my obvious choice, and leave it at that.

Bucky

(53,804 posts)
29. I'm not Californianj, any one of them would be acceptable...
Sat Feb 18, 2023, 05:30 PM
Feb 2023

I just hope the race doesn't evolve into something that would discourage supporters from voting in the fall

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,283 posts)
30. Do all three need to give up their House reelection campaign ...
Sat Feb 18, 2023, 05:44 PM
Feb 2023

... to run in the Senate primary?

Risky business.

Anyway, I plan to contribute to the Schiff campaign. As of now.

Response to CoopersDad (Original post)

Emile

(21,916 posts)
36. Schiff and Lee are in safe house seats, Katie is not
Sun Feb 19, 2023, 01:27 PM
Feb 2023

in a safe seat. We can"t afford losing Katie and that's why I fully support her over Schiff and Barbara Lee.

Deep State Witch

(10,350 posts)
39. I know that this sounds ageist, but
Sun Feb 19, 2023, 09:19 PM
Feb 2023

Rep. Lee is 76. While she's still sharp, I would like to see it go to someone younger. That's not to say that she doesn't deserve it. However, time for a new generation to take over.

Response to CoopersDad (Original post)

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