Voting Dilemma in California

[Nictuku]

I am preparing my ballot for mailing, and I am faced with a difficult question for California Senator (Diane Finestein's Seat).

Here is the dilemma: I know who I want to vote for for the full-term of the Senate (I was torn between Katie Porter and Adam Schiff - but I've made a decision on that)

The sticky part comes here, Governor Newsom appointed a temporary Senator (Laphonza Butler) until this primary election where we will elect a senator to serve until Jan 2025. I don't want to lose any house seats, and so there is my problem. Do I vote for (Porter or Schiff, or any other house member for that matter), and lose a seat?

With such a close margin in the House I just don't know what to do.

I wish that Laphonza Butler was on the ballot, because her holding the seat until 1/25 makes the most sense to me, but she is not on it.

What to do.... what to do.... Any advice?

[leftieNanner]

1. Both Porter and Schiff

Have to drop their House seats to run for Senate.

Sad.

[Nictuku]

2. So they will serve out their current terms?

Any clarification will help. Does this mean neither Katie or Adam are currently in the house because they are running for Senate? (I did not know that.... Not sure if that is right - I thought I've heard their names in roll calls (yes, I watch C-Span sometimes)

[leftieNanner]

3. They will finish out their current terms

But they can't run for both House and Senate (primaries) in the spring. That means one will likely become a Senator and the other will be out of office. Nothing says they can't run for House in 2026.

[Nictuku]

4. OK ... One more question

If one of the Current House Members that is running for this Unexpired Term (until Jan, 2025), they will have to vacate their current term in the House to take up the Senate Seat. (So, this is the thing I wish to avoid). I can vote for another Democrat who is not currently serving a House Term, and thus, have no effect on the slim majority/minority in the House.

The problem I have for that is that the Republican Steve Garvey could get in (if I vote for a less popular democrat), and then we would end up with an incumbent Republican (God Forbid!)

[BigmanPigman]

5. Good questions!

[leftieNanner]

6. Not quite

Both Schiff and Porter have regular two year terms that end January 3, 2025. Because they are both running in the primary for Feinstein's seat, it doesn't impact their current terms. But it's possible they will both be running in the general election in November. Likely one of them will be elected Senator. Steve Harvey is running in the primary race for the Senate as a Republican. Top two in the primary move on.

I also hope Garvey isn't in the general election, but I cannot imagine California choosing him over Porter or Schiff.

Does this help?

[Nictuku]

8. Yes, Mahalo!

That is my understanding for the 'Full Term' Senate Seat. But my question is more about the interim, (the special election that is also on our ballots), to fill seat until Jan, 2025. So it is a separate election and will impact the next 11 months.

[leftieNanner]

9. Oh. I thought the Governor already nominated

A woman to fill the rest of Diane's term.

[Nictuku]

10. He did, but only until the 'next election' which is this primary

She is not running for this interim period.

[leftieNanner]

11. My understanding is that she will serve

Until her replacement is elected in November and seated in January.

[Nictuku]

13. Not November, March (Special Election on same date as Primaries)

[FreeState]

14. No this is for the primary with the general in November

March is not a special election, it’s the normal Primary that happens every spring before a Presidential election.

The special election on the 19th is for Kevin’s seat: https://ballotpedia.org/California%27s_20th_Congressional_District_special_election,_2024

A special election to fill the seat representing California's 20th Congressional District in the U.S. House will be held in 2024. A primary is scheduled for March 19, 2024. The general election will be held May 21, 2024. The filing deadline for the primary was January 25, 2024, and the deadline for write-in candidates is March 5, 2024.[1]

The special election will fill the vacancy left by Kevin McCarthy (R), who resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives on December 31, 2023.[2][3]

[Nictuku]

15. On my Ballot I am voting for Dianne Finestein's seat twice

One from this election (I thought it was a special election) until Jan 2025, and then for the full term starting in Jan 2025.

Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, and Adam Schiff are all on both of these (as well as democratic other non-house members and republicans)

So if Porter, Lee, or Schiff win the interim, then we will be down a house member until Jan 2025 (Can the Governor appoint someone to replace their vacated house seat? That would be alright)

[Rebl2]

7. Yes they

are currently in the house.

[TomCADem]

12. Sadly this is correct. Both have to drop House seats...

...because you cannot simultaneously run for a House and Senate seat. It is too bad that Porter ran given that she had a seat in a normally red district, but perhaps that is part of the reason why she thought she had nothing to lose.

[brooklynite]

16. The two issues aren't linked.

The registration deadline for the House elections have already passed. Port (and Lee) can't run for their House seats at this point.