Rep. Adam Schiff Announces Senate Bid, Setting Up a Battle of Political Titans for California’s 2024 Senate Seat

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced on Thursday his intention to run for the California Senate seat in 2024, currently held by longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Schiff is the third House Democrat to launch a campaign for the seat, joining fundraising powerhouse and wonk superstar Katie Porter and Ro Khanna, a representative of the Bernie Sanders wing of the party. Barbara Lee, a living legend who got her start with the Black Panthers, is also expected to join the race, making her the only Black woman in the Senate if she wins.

In his campaign video launching his Senate bid, Schiff spoke of the threat of MAGA extremists and the need to stop them. He also spoke of the need to protect the middle class from the Republican party’s “gutting” of it.

Dan Newman, a veteran political strategist, commented on the situation, saying that a generation of leaders has stuck around, leaving many talented younger elected officials waiting for the logjam to break. Newman believes that the race between Schiff, Porter, Khanna, and Lee will be “for the ages” and will come with a hefty price tag in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Feinstein has yet to announce her plans for the 2024 Senate race, but many are expecting her to step down after completing her term this year. Whoever wins the race will have to face the challenge of MAGA extremists and protecting the middle class from the Republican party’s policies.