Rep. Katie Porter running for Senate in California in 2024, hoping to replace 89-year-old Dianne Feinstein
Porter could face tough competition in the Democratic primary, as more seasoned Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee are rumored to also be eyeing the Senate seat
Democratic Rep. Katie Porter announced on Tuesday that she will compete for Dianne Feinstein’s California Senate seat in 2024. Feinstein, the Senate’s longest-serving female senator, is largely expected to resign when her tenure expires.
“The threat from so-called leaders like Mitch McConnell has too often made the United States Senate a place where rights get revoked, special interests get rewarded and our democracy gets rigged. Especially in times like these, California needs a warrior in Washington,” Porter, 49, said in a video declaring her candidacy.
Porter, who was elected to Congress in 2019 as a representative for Irvine, California, and its surrounding areas, has swiftly earned a reputation for calling out businesses during hearings, frequently while holding up an enlarged chart to show her point.
“I don’t do Congress the way others do,” Porter continued in the video. “I use whatever power I have to speak hard truths to the powers that be — to not just challenge the status quo, but call it out, name names, and demand justice.”
Porter’s tenacity in pushing for consumers in Congress has made her a Democratic Party standout, while she is far from a lock for the Senate seat.
California has 52 House lawmakers and numerous notable regional leaders, many of whom would welcome the unusual opportunity to fill a Senate seat. Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee, both of whom had served on Porter’s staff for several years, have been speculated to be considering Senate races in 2024.
Porter’s early declaration will allow her to begin fundraising and establish herself as a genuine candidate while potential competitors work out their plans.
The fact that Feinstein, 89, has yet to declare whether she will run for reelection in 2024 is crucial in determining Porter’s potential Senate career. If she were to serve another term, she would be 97 years old by the end, fueling widespread speculation that she may resign.
“Of course, everyone is welcome to put their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement regarding my plans for 2024 at the right time,” Feinstein said in a statement to the media on Tuesday. “Right now, I’m focused on ensuring that California has all of the resources it needs to deal with the horrific storms that have ravaged the state and killed more than a dozen people.”