California Rep. Adam Schiff, who became a national progressive favorite for his battles against the Trump administration, announced Thursday that he was running in next year’s top-two primary for the Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein, a fellow Democrat who has not confirmed she’ll retire in 2024. Schiff, who previously said he’d only run if Feinstein didn’t, told KQED, “I wouldn't be doing this without her blessing.” All the candidates will compete on the same ballot in the top-two primary, which is set for March 2024; the two contenders with the most votes, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election.
Schiff joins a competitive contest that already includes Rep. Katie Porter, who has her own following among Democrats across the country. Another prominent progressive, Rep. Barbara Lee, has not yet revealed her own plans, though media outlets say she told the Congressional Black Caucus she would run earlier this month. Allies of the 76-year-old Lee reportedly have told donors that she’d serve just one term in the upper chamber. A fourth Democratic congressman, Ro Khanna, is also interested, though he’s said he’ll take Lee’s decision into account.
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