CA-SEN: California Senate leader to challenge Sen. Dianne Feinstein

[RandySF]

Washington (CNN) California Democratic state Senate president Kevin de León intends to enter California's 2018 Senate race against Sen. Dianne Feinstein, three sources with knowledge of his plans say.

De León has begun calling labor leaders and elected officials to inform them of his plans, the sources said, and is expected to soon announce his campaign against Feinstein, a giant of California Democratic politics who has held the office since 1992.

The 50-year-old de León, who represents Los Angeles and is seen as a leading Latino voice in Democratic politics, is likely to campaign aggressively against President Donald Trump. He began signaling he could oppose Feinstein in late August, after she said Trump could "be a good president" and that he "can learn and change." Feinstein later clarified that she is "under no illusion that it's likely to happen and will continue to oppose his policies."

He will enter the race after a state legislative session in which California lawmakers pushed legislation targeted at Trump -- making California a "sanctuary state," sought to force Trump to release his tax returns by making it a requirement to appear on the state's ballots as a presidential candidate, and passed a resolution urging Trump "to publicly apologize to all Americans for his racist and bigoted behavior."


http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/12/politics/kevin-de-leon-dianne-feinstein-tom-steyer-california-democratic-primary/index.html?sr=twCNNp101217kevin-de-leon-dianne-feinstein-tom-steyer-california-democratic-primary0328PMVODtop&CNNPolitics=Tw

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. I am neither fan nor foe of the senior senator from the Golden State but it seems like a

I am neither fan nor foe of the senior senator from the Golden State but it seems like a quixotic campaign.

[Demsrule86]

3. It is just plain stupid...go after a Republican seat...what possible use is a junior

no power Senator in the age of Trump. Feinstein hopefully will win. I wouldn't vote for this guy for dog catcher...appalling lack of judgement.

[RhodeIslandOne]

11. Because its a jungle primary.

All he has to do is finish second and he’s in to the general.

[Demsrule86]

12. I know how it works...but it is a foolish use of resources. There are only Democratic Senate seats

in California.

[JCanete]

16. This is what we always should have. Choices about who represents us. I certainly want some

options. The alternative is not exactly democracy. People are welcome to weigh Feinstein's seniority along with all other issues when they decide how they want to vote.

[msongs]

2. if they have a good clean campaign advocating progressive values its a win win nt

[Demsrule86]

4. Primarying sitting Democrats instead of GOP seats is never a win...waste of time and money...

I love to hear talk about how we need to advocate progressive values...right...how about we need to win GOP seats and turn over the House which won't happen if candidates go after sitting Dems...very foolish. People know what we stand for and in what has become a center left country at best running to the left will merely cost us elections...same sort of thing as when Nixon ran against McGovern. We need a 50 state strategy to take back the House...and stop wasting time and money to challenge Democrats...playing into Republican hands.

[RandySF]

5. It's likely going to be Dem vs Dem in November, 2018.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. Yup, Rethugs have ZERO chance at capturing a Cali senate seat.

[Demsrule86]

20. See that is where you are wrong...the GOP could capture a Senate seat in California...there are

conservatives in California and with the right candidate, we could be in trouble. Also, Dianne is a powerful senior senator...a junior senator just won't have her clout...very foolish...but I say she wins and this is just another waste of time and money by those who really should know better.

[tonedevil]

7. Again I will ask...

are you a California voter? If, as I suspect, you are not we will note your concern and go on about our business.

[Demsrule86]

9. No, I am not but Congress and the Senate are my business and whether we manage to get some power

back and stop the GOP is everyone's business. No man is an island. Also, we have Move On down here primarying Tim Ryan...we could easily lose this seat if this person wins. I am incensed about California and Ohio where I live...and have cut contributions to all organizations who seem to think that the way to power is to run for Democratic held seats (why). I see no upside to primarying Sen. Feinstein who is a powerful experienced Senator. The money and time should be spent going after Republican seats...and honestly to say 'none of your business' rather than address the meat of the argument shows you can't really defend this.

[tonedevil]

10. I don't need to defend...

anything. There isn't any controlling authority to apeal to in this case. I don't get to choose who throws their hat into the ring and I am am actual parricipant in the process here in California you have even less of a say.
There are very likely goimg to be several Democrats running in the primary and it is also likely there will be two Democrats in the general one of which I expect will be Senator Feinstein. I don't care if this isn't to your liking and neither does the process. Learn to work with the system or figure out how to change it. Stamping your feet and shaking your fist isn't going to make any difference.

[Demsrule86]

13. It was a discussion...not a question of defending anything...

You can talk all you want but should this weaken Sen. Feinstein and should she lose when we have no power...it would hurt us...that is my only point. No junior senator could be as effective. As for stamping one's feet...it's not me who is doing this. I know how it works in California. I don't approve but that is not my business. NO matter what it is still a waste of resources that could be put to better use as in winning Republican seats in 18 and 20. I believe primarying Democrats in the Trump era is indefensible anyway.

[tonedevil]

14. The last sentence of your post #9...

says directly to me that I can't defend this. My point is this is the system and there are going to be Democrats joining in the primary they may even outnumber Republicans. I don't see how this can be changed or stopped so it is the system we have to compete in. If you are complaining about something that isn't going to change it is effectively stamping your feet and shaking your fist at the sun.
As a California Democratic voter I do think having two Democrats on the ballot for the Senate race in the general election will be good for the down ticket Democrats. We have a lot of conservative districts in rural areas. Someone like Representative Berra is a good example of who it can help. His district is conservative and he has fought hard to get and hold that seat. If the Senate race is between Senator Feinstein and a Republican there are voters who might vote for Rep. Berra, but won't want to vote for Senator Feinstein. The Senate race and possibly some initiative will be the draws of the election. If voters aren't going to vote in the Senate race it can cause them to just stay home never giving Rep. Berra a single thought. This may seem a far fetched scenario to you, but I think having less Republicans on the ballot will result in less of them getting elected.

[Demsrule86]

15. Not you in particular...no one can in my opinion defend trashing their own manufacturing when

unions are weakened and jobs are at stake...I didn't ask you to defend it. At some point we have a choice ...more cheap shit or jobs. We won't have both.

[Demsrule86]

18. Already answered.

[nkpolitics1212]

17. I found a way for progressives to defeat Feinstein and save our financial resources to

defeat Republican incumbents and protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents from strong red states.
Recruit a wealthy progressive Democratic candidate like Tom Steyer to run. Steyer is a billionaire and is able to self fund his campaign in the primary to finish in 2nd place and defeat Feinstein in the general. Progressives Democratic voters and Special Interest Groups don't need to donate any money Steyer because he can self fund. We can use or financial resources to help
Jones-AL
Sinema-AZ
Nelson-FL
Donnelly-IN
Stabenow-MI
McCaskill-MO
Tester-MT
Rosen-NV
Menendez-NJ if he gets off on bribery charges or whoever NJ Democrats nominate.
Heitkamp-ND
Brown-OH
Casey-PA
Mackler-TN
O'Rourke-TX
Wilson-UT
Kaine-VA
Manchin-WV
Baldwin-WI

[Demsrule86]

19. Why would I want to defeat a powerful Democrat and elect a nothing junior senator in the age of

Trump? How about those you call progressive ( I have my doubts about that) stop primarying Democrats and then we can work on defeating the GOP.

[nkpolitics1212]

21. If you want progressives to stop primarying Democrats. Let's tell the Justice Democrats or other

Progressive Special Interest Groups to stop supporting Paula Jean Swearengin of WV who is challenging Joe Manchin in the Democratic primary. Manchin is the only Democratic candidate that could win a US Senate Race in WV, Swearengin can't.
I have no problem with a primary challenge against Feinstein-CA because Feinstein-CA will be come out as the winner. Feinstein-CA will defeat the Republican nominee in the November General Election or if a Progressive Democrat finishes in 2nd place in the open primary, Feinstein-CA will defeat that Progressive Democrat in the November General Election.

[Irish_Dem]

8. I like Feinstein, but all the senators who are over 80 are beginning

to worry me based upon recent leaks of the congressional medication list.