Rep. Katie Porter announces run for U.S. Senate in California

Comment on this story

Comment

Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) announced Tuesday that she will run for the U.S. Senate amid uncertainty over whether Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will seek a sixth term in 2024.

In an email to her supporters, as well as a video posted on her social media accounts, Porter announced her background as a single mother who drove a minivan, best known for her use of a whiteboard in the House of Representatives than to be a “career politician. .”

“I’m running for the US Senate because Californians deserve a warrior to fight for them in Washington,” Porter, 49, wrote. “In the House, I have stood up to leaders of both parties — as the only Democrat to oppose the appointments and as one of only a dozen members of Congress to reject lobbyist and corporate PAC money.”

Porter made her announcement despite both California senators, Democrats Feinstein and Alex Padilla, saying they plan to vacate their seats. Padilla, 49, won election in November for his first full term. Feinstein, 89, last year filed initial paperwork to run for re-election in 2024, but has not explicitly said she will seek another term.

California needs a fighter in the Senate – to stand up to special interests, fight the dangerous imbalance in our economy, and hold so-called leaders like Mitch McConnell accountable for manipulating our democracy.

Today, I am proud to announce my candidacy for the US Senate in 2024. pic.twitter.com/X1CSE8T12B

— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) January 10, 2023

“Everyone is certainly welcome to throw their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement about my plans for 2024 in due course,” Feinstein said in a statement Tuesday. “Right now I’m focused on making sure California has all the resources it needs to deal with the devastating storms that hit the state and left more than a dozen dead.”

Feinstein, the oldest serving senator, has for years dismissed questions about her age and ability to serve, but has also relinquished a number of key roles in recent years. Feinstein resigned as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee before the 117th Congress.

Last year, Feinstein declined consideration to become Senate president pro tempore, a position that traditionally goes to the party’s most senior senator and is third in line for the presidency. Instead, the role went to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Porter, who represents large parts of Orange County, was first elected to Congress in 2018. After redistricting last year, Porter narrowly won re-election to her seat in November — now in the 47th Congressional District of California – by about 3 percentage points.