Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) said that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) intention to appoint a “caretaker” if Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) steps down is “insulting” to Black women, the Washington Post reports.

Said Lee: “The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election.”

She added: “There are currently no Black women serving in the Senate. Since 1789, there have only been two Black woman Senators, who have served a total of 10 years. The perspective of Black women in the U.S. Senate is sorely needed — and needed for more than a few months. Governor Newsom knows this, which is why he made the pledge in the first place.”

A new Los Angeles Times/UC Berkeley poll finds Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) are neck and neck in the U.S. Senate jungle primary, with support from 20% and 17% of likely voters, respectively.

The two have opened up sizable leads over their other prominent Democratic opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, who sits at 7%.

Los Angeles Times: “Capitol Hill is tight quarters, especially for members from the same state. Schiff, Porter and Lee are constantly bumping into one another and their other California colleagues in the hallways, the elevators, at committee hearings and on the House floor. The California delegation has a weekly Wednesday lunch. Lawmakers say they’ve spotted Schiff and Porter on the same flights from D.C. to LAX.”

“And while the Senate hopefuls and their colleagues insist that no one’s trying to make things weird, some California Democrats admit that having the three running against one another has created an uncomfortable situation.”

“Rep. Adam Schiff, the target of conservative scorn and House Republican censure as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate, raised over $8.1 million in the year’s second quarter, a major haul that’s likely to put more distance between his rivals,” Politico reports.

“The record-breaking quarter places the Democratic congressman in his party’s upper echelon of 2024 fundraisers and brings to $29.5 million his cash on hand for the Senate race.”

“Arguing that California needs a new type of representation in the nation’s capital, Silicon Valley executive Lexi Reese announced Thursday that she is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

“Reese, a Democrat who previously worked at Google, Facebook, American Express and other companies, has never run for office. She joins a crowded field vying for Feinstein’s seat next year.”

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) wasted no time after he was censured by House Republicans to use the political stunt as a fundraising tool for his run for Senate, Mediaite reports.

Lexi Reese (D), a San Francisco Bay Area tech executive and investor, “is considering a run for the U.S. Senate in California, potentially scrambling a crowded field of established Democrats,” Politico reports.

Reese “is preparing to file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to formally explore a Senate run Thursday.”

“Former Los Angeles Dodgers icon Steve Garvey is considering running for the open U.S. Senate seat in California as a Republican, a move that would immediately upend the 2024 race, according to several GOP state party insiders and operatives who requested anonymity to discuss the former All-Star’s plans,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

“The 74-year-old has never held elected office but has been meeting with GOP donors and leaders around the state as he weighs a bid and is expected to make a decision within the next month or so.”

Politico: “California Republicans are such a distinct minority group in the blue state — they make up about a third of the electorate — that, this go around, things could get weird. The race to replace Feinstein could end up as a Democrat-on-Democrat contest, and Republicans could wind up swinging the whole election. It’s also not clear who might benefit. Porter’s campaign seems obsessed with this idea.”

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) on Wednesday announced his endorsement of Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) in the competitive Democratic Senate primary in California, breaking with former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who is supporting Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Washington Post reports.

Los Angeles Times: “Porter is far from the first politician to try to elevate her profile and charm voters and potential donors by releasing a memoir while kicking off a campaign for higher office.”

“But Porter’s strategy is another example of how a Senate campaign in California, a vast territory that’s home to nearly 40 million people, can require almost quasi-national campaign tactics.”

CNN: “In the closely watched race to succeed California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Adam Schiff outraised the rest of the Democratic field, bringing in $6.7 million during the first quarter – topping the nearly $4.5 million raised by Rep. Katie Porter and roughly $1.3 million collected by Rep. Barbara Lee.”

“Schiff also led the field in available cash, ending March with more than $24.6 million stockpiled in his campaign account.”

The Daily Mail has obtained divorce documents for Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), who is now running for U.S. Senate.

“They tell the story of a messy and dramatic ending to the congresswoman’s marriage that left her one of Capitol Hill’s rare single moms raising school-age children.”

“On March 20, 2013, Porter and then-husband Matthew Hoffman filed for divorce but decided they would continue to live in the same home for the sake of their three children.”

“But from there, the relationship deteriorated – with Porter and Hoffman filing restraining orders against each other and alleging abuse. Old incidents came to light in divorce filings, with Hoffman alleging Porter dumped a bowl of steaming hot boiled potatoes on his head.”

“Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) surpassed his top California Senate rivals on the fundraising circuit during the first quarter,“ the Washington Examiner reports.

“Schiff’s campaign touted a $6.5 million haul on Thursday, bringing his war chest up to $24.5 million in financial firepower on hand. Meanwhile, Rep. Katie Porter’s (D-CA) campaign announced a $4.5 million windfall, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) touted a $1.4 million campaign intake.”

A new Los Angeles Times poll in California finds Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) are nearly tied in the race for U.S. Senate and hold a strong early lead ahead of two other hopefuls, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Ro Khanna (D-CA).

Schiff has the support of 22%, with 20% backing Porter, 6% for Lee and 4% for Khanna.

“Under the state’s top-two primary system, voters can choose among candidates of any party, with the two who get the most votes advancing to the November election. In 2016 and 2018, two Democrats faced off in general election Senate races.”

“Because no prominent Republican has gotten into the 2024 race — or even publicly discussed entering it — this poll questioned only Democrats and nonpartisan voters about the contest.”

“Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), a longtime favorite of liberal Democrats, confirmed Tuesday that she will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

Said Lee, in a video: “For those who say my time has passed, well, when does making change go out of style? I don’t quit. I don’t give up. Come on. That’s not in my DNA. Because when you stand on the side of justice, you don’t quit. If they don’t give you a seat at the table, you bring a folding chair for everyone.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has filed paperwork with the FEC to run for U.S. Senate in California, Puck reports.

Politico: “Lee, a member of the House since 1998, will join a field that already includes two of her colleagues — California Democrats Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. Feinstein formally announced she would not seek another term on Wednesday, though the jockeying to replace her had already been well underway for months.”