California state Senate president Kevin de León (D) intends to enter California’s 2018 Senate race against Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), CNN reports.
“De León has begun calling labor leaders and elected officials to inform them of his plans and is expected to soon announce his campaign against Feinstein, a giant of California Democratic politics who has held the office since 1992.”
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Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced that she will run for reelection in 2018, The Hill reports.
Said Feinstein: “I am running for reelection to the Senate. Lots more to do: ending gun violence, combating climate change, access to healthcare. I’m all in!”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) says she is “close” to announcing a reelection campaign — the 84-year-old’s firmest suggestion yet that she will seek a fifth full term in the Senate, Politico reports.
Said Feinstein: “I’m ready for a good fight.”
A new Public Policy Institute of California poll finds that 50% of California’s likely voters think Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) should not run for re-election in 2018, while 43% support another run.
Still, the poll found that Feinstein remains popular. More than half of likely voters — 54% — approve of the job she’s doing, compared with 38% who disapprove.
“Eric Garcetti started the week toying with a 2020 presidential run on a trip to New Hampshire, but the Los Angeles mayor is still keeping his options open for a 2018 run closer to home,” Politico reports.
“That includes next year’s open governor’s race, and possibly a Senate race, should Sen. Dianne Feinstein decide not to seek a fifth term.”
“The nation’s oldest U.S. senator looks like she’s sticking around. California’s Dianne Feinstein turns 84 on Thursday and is displaying signs that she’s headed for a re-election campaign, not a retirement party,” the Sacramento Bee reports.
“While the Democrat has been coy when asked about seeking a fifth full term next year, her political committee, unambiguously titled Feinstein for Senate 2018, raised more than $650,000 in the first three months of this year in a cue she is looking ahead.”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said she is waiting for some family health issues to be resolved before she announces whether she’ll run for another term in 2018, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Said Feinstein: “The time is coming, be assured. I’ve had reasons for waiting, and so once those problems are solved, I’ll let you know.”
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) “won’t be back,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
“He said Sunday that he is not interested in running for the U.S. Senate, after rumors bubbled last week that he was considering a campaign for the seat currently held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein.”
Said Schwarzenegger: “I’m deeply flattered by all of the people who have approached me about running for Senate, but my mission right now is to bring sanity to Washington through redistricting reform like we passed here in California.”
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) may be mulling a political comeback, Politico reports.
“The prospect of Schwarzenegger’s return to elected politics in a 2018 U.S. Senate run — possibly as an independent — is generating increasing buzz in state Republican circles, fueled by the former governor’s seeming ability to get under the skin of President Donald Trump on social media.”
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) told Univision that she believes President Obama may have endorsed rival Kamala Harris in California’s U.S. Senate race because they are both black.
Said Sanchez: “I think they have, what he said they have, is a friendship of many years. She is African American, as is he. They know each other through meetings.”
“Sure, I could say I’m going to be the next senator, but that wouldn’t be honest.”
— California U.S. Senate candidate Ron Unz (R), quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle, admitting he’s just using his bid to fight a ballot measure on bilingual education.
“Turmoil and lackluster funding in California Attorney General Kamala Harris’s (D) Senate campaign has some Democratic operatives wondering what’s gone wrong,” The Hill reports.
“Harris this week replaced campaign manager Rory Steele with Juan Rodriguez, who was serving as the campaign’s senior adviser. Harris’ team is also cutting costs to control its high rate of spending, which threatens to overtake the money flowing into the campaign account. These changes follow departures by two finance directors earlier this year.”
“Critics point to Harris’s own personality as the reason for some of the problems.”
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) is not having the best Senate campaign roll out, Politico reports.
“After having a ‘draft’ of her official launch announcement leak and making a ‘war cry’ gesture while describing Native Americans at a California Democratic convention, Sanchez was caught on camera dancing in front of signs blasting Rep. Ami Bera, a fellow California lawmaker who is facing criticism from progressives and union leaders for his decision to support fast track authority.”
“It’s highly uncommon for lawmakers of the same party to appear at events where their colleagues are being protested but a video dated May 18 shows Sanchez clapping in front of signs blasting pro-trade lawmakers like Bera. One sign slams him directly.”
Two days after entering the race for the U.S. Senate, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) met with an Indian American group on Saturday and mimicked a racial stereotype of American Indians, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Said Sanchez: “I am going to his office, thinking that I am going to meet with a,” she said, holding her hand in front of her mouth and making an echo sound. “Right? … because he said Indian American.”
Responded primary rival Kamala Harris: “I don’t know what to say to that.”