Schiff Enters Field Competing for Feinstein Senate Seat

WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., confirmed one of California politics’ most poorly kept secrets, announcing Thursday that he is running in 2024 for Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat.

Schiff is the second candidate to formally enter what is expected to be a crowded field of potential candidates. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., announced her bid earlier this month.

Among the other potential candidates said to be considering entering the race are Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., California Lt. Gov Eleni Kounalakis and state Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“I look forward to campaigning hard in this race, meeting Californians where they are and listening to what they want from their next senator. I hope to earn their votes and their trust,” Schiff said in a statement announcing his bid.

He enters the contest with high name recognition and more than $20 million in his campaign war chest, according to a Federal Election Commission filing last fall.

Of course, Feinstein herself has yet to say what she intends to do in 2024. She has filed reelection paperwork with the FEC, but at 89 is biding her time before making a formal announcement.

In an email to The Well News earlier this month, the senator said, “Everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement concerning my plans for 2024 at the appropriate time.”

At the time, she said, her priority was ensuring California had all the resources it needed to cope with a series of strong storms that had battered it for weeks.

Schiff is a former assistant U.S. attorney and California state senator, and has represented his Southern California district since 2001. 

Until this week, he was also a longtime member — and former chairman — of the House Intelligence Committee.

He was removed from the committee by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who said Schiff’s continued involvement with the panel would jeopardize national security.

Political observers, however, said Schiff’s removal from the panel was nothing more than political payback for being a high-profile critic and outspoken nemesis of former President Donald Trump.

In a video announcing his candidacy for the Senate, Schiff doubled down on his critiques of Trump and the former president’s allies, suggesting this remains “a critical time in the history of our country, when our democracy is still very much at risk.”

“For several years now, as you know, I’ve been at the center of the fight to preserve our democracy, leading the investigations into Trump’s misconduct with Russia and then Ukraine, impeaching Donald Trump and serving as the lead House manager,” Schiff said. “But also, importantly, after that vicious attack on our democracy on Jan. 6, participating in the bipartisan Jan. 6 committee that demonstrated, I think, to the country, how close we came to losing our democracy, the role of the former president, as well as so many of his enablers in Congress, I want to continue that struggle, because I don’t think it’s over yet.”

He concluded his remarks by saying, “I want to use whatever ability I have, as your champion in the Senate, to fight for an economy that works for everyone, to fight for our democracy and to fight for our planet, the three existential challenges of our time.” 

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue