Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has announced a bid for a Senate seat, launching a campaign on Thursday to take the spot long held by Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Feinstein, 89, has filed the paperwork to run for reelection, but hasn’t announced whether she’ll seek a sixth term, CNN reported.
“I look forward to campaigning hard in this race, meeting Californians where they are, and listening to what they want from their next Senator. I hope to earn their votes and their trust,” Schiff said in a statement.
His announcement follows the progressive Rep. Katie Porter throwing her hat into the primary, and comes as anonymous sources tell CNN that Rep. Barbara Lee may take a swing, as well.
Feinstein said on Wednesday that she would decide whether to run for re-election “probably in a couple of months,” CNN reported.
“Oh, I think it’s fine. I think people should if they want to run, run. For me, I just need a little bit more time,” she said, mentioning the death of her husband in February, CNN reported.
Other possible contenders in a potentially crowded primary include California’s Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Attorney General Rob Bonta. Another possibility is the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, who is a former longtime California representative, CNN reported.
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Schiff was until recently the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, but on Tuesday he was denied that seat in the new Congress by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Schiff described the move as “petty, political payback” for his role on the select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol storming.
Schiff also played a leading role in former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial.
This was a breaking news story. The details were periodically updated as more information became available.
