Dem
51
GOP
49
Of the three serious candidates running for Dianne Feinstein's old Senate seat, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is considered to be the most moderate. In California, that is not a feature. He is now trying to fix that problem. He is running on a platform that should delight progressives up and down the state: getting rid of the filibuster, expanding the Supreme Court, abolishing the Electoral College, ending gerrymandering, making voting easier, allowing ex-felons to vote, universal vote-by-mail, and creating an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court. Schiff said of his new platform: "I think our democracy is at more grave risk now than ever. And it's clear that the issue is going to be front and center—and needs to be front and center—on the national stage."
Schiff is not alone in rolling out a platform ahead of the March 5 all-party primary, but it is far more ambitious than his opponents' platforms. Rep. Katie Porter wants to shake up the Senate by banning earmarks and prohibiting trading in individual stocks by members and their families. That's small potatoes compared to eliminating the Electoral College. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has touted her support for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. While that may get her some votes from young progressives, that is not exactly a formula for safeguarding American democracy.
This is not Schiff's first attempt at shoring up democracy. In 2020, he sponsored the "Protecting Our Democracy Act," which would bolster Congress' ability to enforce subpoenas, limit the presidential pardon power, and strengthen whistleblower protections. It passed the House in 2021, but stalled in the Senate. This led him to conclude that bigger changes are needed, hence his new platform.
Eliminating the filibuster might not be the best way to attract Democratic votes right now since there is a substantial chance the Democrats will be in the minority in the Senate in 2025, in which case the filibuster might come in handy, especially if the Republicans capture the House and presidency.
Current polling has Schiff ahead, with the two women and Republican Steve Garvey in close contention for the second slot in the November general election. Schiff also has far more campaign money than any of his rivals. He has $32 million. Porter has $12 million, and Lee has $1 million. Schiff and Porter are now starting major ad campaigns in the Bay Area, focusing on women. This weekend, the Los Angeles Times, California's biggest newspaper, endorsed Schiff. The paper said that he stands above the others for his fierce leadership but also his willingness to be a team player when that is needed. (V)