John Phillips: London Breed could be on Newsom’s shortlist if Sen. Feinstein steps down
Ever since California’s senior U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein announced that she would not be seeking another six-year term in 2024, conventional wisdom has been that the battle for her replacement would be among three Democrats: Burbank Congressman Adam Schiff, Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter, and Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
In reality, all of the recent metrics indicate that Schiff is running away with it.
Campaign donations are a reliable barometer of enthusiasm for a particular candidate.
According to the most recent fundraising numbers, Barbara Lee has generated only $1.4 million.
That puts her just slightly ahead of David DePape.
Comparatively, Schiff brought in $6.5 million and Porter raised $4.5 million.
In terms of endorsements, 20 current Democratic members of the California House delegation have endorsed Schiff, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Two have endorsed Barabra Lee.
None has endorsed Katie Porter.
Ouch.
I guess we now know why Porter goes after the banks so aggressively — she couldn’t find a co-signer if her life depended on it.
Schiff also claims to have lots of evidence that he’d be the most prepared senator – but so far he hasn’t shown it to anybody.
Go figure.
The way I see things, this contest is now a two-person race. Not between Schiff and Porter or Schiff and Lee….but between Schiff and Newsom.
If Dianne Feinstein were to vacate her seat before her term expires, Newsom would have the responsibility of appointing her successor.
He has already gone on-the-record saying if that were to occur, he would appoint a Black female.
In March of 2021, MSNBC’s Joy Reid asked Newsom if he would commit to naming a Black woman to the Senate were Feinstein to step down, and whether he had thought of particular replacements.
Newsom told Reid, “I have multiple names in mind. We have multiple names in mind — and the answer is yes.”
And we can definitely count on Newsom to keep his word. Just ask anybody who works at the French Laundry.
Conventional wisdom is that if a vacancy were to occur, the seat would belong to Barbara Lee.
But, not so fast.
Bear in mind (pun intended): Newsom’s pick would not be intended to please the people of California. He can’t run for governor again, which in California makes him a lame duck l’orange.
Whether he admits it or not, Newsom is running for president…and the new Democratic primary calendar has South Carolina voting first. Whatever decision he makes will be intended to please that audience, not the people of California.
If elected, Barbara Lee would be in her eighties during her freshman term, which would likely make her a short-term senator.
However, if Newsom were to pick a younger Black woman for the seat, he could make the argument to the majority black South Carolina Democratic primary electorate that, thanks to him, Black women would have representation in the U.S. Senate for decades.
The youngest, most politically ambitious Black female in California politics is currently 48-year-old San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
As mayor of San Francisco, Breed shares a political pedigree with both Newsom and Feinstein, and it probably doesn’t hurt that she also comes from the same Willie Brown political machine that produced Newsom.
If appointed, Breed would be bringing her unique brand of leadership with her to Washington.
Meanwhile, America braces for a severe shortage of tents.
Oh yeah, she’d also have all of the power that comes along with incumbency, including widespread name identification, franking privileges, and the support of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
To my eye, this race is a two person battle all right. But only one of them is an actual candidate.
So far.
John Phillips can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on “The John Phillips Show” on KABC/AM 790.