California Democratic Party declines to endorse Dianne Feinstein in re-election bid

[PoliticAverse]

SAN DIEGO — The California Democratic Party declined to make an endorsement in this year’s U.S. Senate race early Sunday morning, snubbing Sen. Dianne Feinstein in her bid for a fifth full term.

Her main challenger, State Senate leader Kevin de León, won the support of 54 percent of the delegates at the state party convention here this weekend, short of the 60 percent needed to secure the party endorsement. Feinstein received only 37 percent of the votes.

The rebuke of Feinstein by the party delegates comes even though the 25-year incumbent has led polls by wide margins and has received broad support from state party luminaries like Sen. Kamala Harris and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

The results were a sign of discomfort among many liberals who believe Feinstein should do more to challenge President Trump — and of de León’s strong connections to the party’s activist left flank. The endorsement contest was a “test of the establishment’s authority and power,” de León chief of staff Dan Reeves said before the vote.

Read the rest at: https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/25/california-democratic-party-declines-to-endorse-dianne-feinstein-in-re-election-bid/

[samnsara]

1. well that sucks!

[Me.]

2. So They're Backing A Loser?

“With four months to go until the June 5 primary, de León has struggled to raise his poll numbers — the most recent poll found him at 17 percent compared to Feinstein’s 46 percent. Most public polls have ignored the other candidates so far”

Also, despite his connections to the activists apparently they don't mind him taking corporate money.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/20/alison-hartson-kevin-de-leon-dianne-feinstein-california-senate/

[MadDAsHell]

3. Not doing ourselves any favors when we are so disconnected from the actual public.

“The rebuke of Feinstein by the party delegates comes even though the 25-year incumbent has led polls by wide margins and has received broad support from state party luminaries like Sen. Kamala Harris and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.”

[Me.]

4. Exactly

[nocalflea]

6. Disconnected and insulated.

[nocalflea]

5. We're better off than most states.

Which means we can weather hits coming from Trump & GOP DC better than most states.

The problem is that we are a part of a nation that is under extreme stress. We need experienced and trusted hands leading the attack against the subversive elements in Congress and a Russian owned executive branch.

Now is not the time to exchange a well known, trusted and reliable old hand for whomever, whatever, because some people are impatient for their time in the sun , or want a more progressive Senator.

Saving our democracy comes first. Rebuilding our democracy comes second . We can't do either without unity of purpose. This means finding common cause with the "sane" members of the GOP. DiFi has built relationships with these folks. Her experience , her contacts , her knowledge of the DC playing field, are not transferable.

Sam Ervin was pretty damned old too.

"Former Sen. Sam Ervin, 88, Watergte Folk Hero, Dies "

http://articles.latimes.com/1985-04-24/news/mn-7139_1_sam-ervin

[BigmanPigman]

7. Those supporting a third party in the state are on the rise too.

https://sandiegofreepress.org/2018/02/why-should-i-be-a-democrat-part-one-the-2018-state-convention-comes-to-san-diego/