Feinstein said in a statement Tuesday following Porter’s announcement that “everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring,” and that she’ll lay out her plans for 2024 “at the appropriate time.” California is currently experiencing devastating flooding that has forced thousands of people to flee their homes and killed at least 14 people since late December.
“Right now I’m focused on ensuring California has all the resources it needs to cope with the devastating storms slamming the state and leaving more than a dozen dead,” Feinstein said in the statement.
Spokespeople for Lee and Schiff told POLITICO on Tuesday that Porter’s announcement does not change their timeline for launching their own campaigns. Schiff has previously said he would consider running if Feinstein does not run for another term, and he has already spoken to Feinstein about a potential bid, according to a person close to him.
A person close to Schiff also told POLITICO they were “perplexed” by Porter’s decision to announce her candidacy on Tuesday as California faces a relentless string of storms.
Porter, a three-term congresswoman, is well-positioned to run a powerful Senate campaign. The progressive Democrat is a prolific fundraiser, with $7.7 million on hand as of the end of 2022 and $25 million raised in the last cycle.
But even with Porter’s impressive fundraising and ability to appeal to swing voters, the race is expected to be highly competitive — especially given California’s primary system that could pit two Democrats against each other in the 2024 general election.
Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.