Rep. Adam Schiff Announces 2024 U.S. Senate Run

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced on Thursday a 2024 run for the Senate seat currently held by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), becoming the third major candidate to enter the race in the last two weeks.

A Californian since the age of 12, Schiff graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1982, and then from Harvard three years later with a law degree. Schiff spent many of his early years either clerking in courts or prosecuting cases as an Assistant U.S. attorney. Following his big legal break in the early 90’s for helping prosecute former FBI agent and Soviet Spy Richard Miller, Schiff moved laterally to a career in politics.

In his first two elections in 1994, Schiff lost both a special election and a general election race for a California Assembly seat, losing both times to future GOP Congressman and Superior Court Judge James Rogan. However, in 1996, Schiff was finally successful, winning a state Senate race. Serving for four years, Schiff was best noted for introducing bills extending the LA metro into the San Gabriel Valley. Then, in 2000, Schiff ran for Congress, facing off against Rogan yet again. However, this time, Schiff won with 53% of the vote, and has been in Congress ever since serving Northern Los Angeles and the surrounding suburbs such as Burbank and Glendale.

Initially more of a moderate Democrat in the House, as seen through early votes such as voting to approve the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Schiff quickly pulled further to the left in voting. Within 10 years he voted with the Democrats over 98% of the time, ranking him 5th in the entire House when it came to party-line voting, often only splitting with the party over more personal beliefs such as his support of Israel. Schiff also has worked closely with Senator Feinstein for the past two decades, often joining her in California-related bills, such as a helicopter noise reduction act for the LA area.

More recently, Schiff has been known for his leading roles in the impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump and the January 6th committee. Earlier this month he was removed from his longtime seat on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in a major shakeup, leading Schiff to go to more less prominent House committees.

His close relationship with Feinstein, as well as Schiff meeting last month with Feinstein to discuss his likely 2024 Senate run, had led many to believe that Schiff was the leading candidate for the 2024 Senate race should Feinstein choose to not run, with Schiff entering the race being seen as Feinstein not running. However, earlier this month, Congresswoman Katie Porter quickly undercut any other run announcements by announcing her own early run for the Senate. This sent many candidates scrambling, with several in turn announcing runs for Porter’s seat in 2024 and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) to also enter the Senate race as a result. Feinstein, meanwhile, remained undecided on if she would run in 2024.

Now, with other prominent lawmakers possibly entering the Senate race soon, including Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), Attorney General Rob Bonta, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Schiff quickly ramped up his efforts, announcing a run on Thursday.

“Our democracy is at great risk,” tweeted Schiff on Thursday along with a video announcement. “Because GOP leaders care more about power than anything else. And because our economy isn’t working for millions of hard working Americans. We’re in the fight of our lives—a fight I’m ready to lead as California’s next U.S. Senator.”

Our democracy is at great risk. Because GOP leaders care more about power than anything else.

And because our economy isn’t working for millions of hard working Americans.

We’re in the fight of our lives—a fight I’m ready to lead as California’s next U.S. Senator. pic.twitter.com/H0Pa0EhhMu

— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) January 26, 2023

In a more formal announcement, Schiff added, “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.”

Political experts noted that Schiff’s campaign appears to be more polished than both Porter’s and Lee’s currently, but stressed that the election is still over 21 months away and that Feinstein herself is still not out just yet.

“This is looking to be like a crowded Senate race,” Los Angeles-based political advisor and campaign advisor Roger Armstrong explained to the Globe on Thursday. “The GOP will probably have a token candidate run to show the flag as it were, but they’ll otherwise sit this one out and take in consolation that several House members, including Porter’s very vulnerable district, will now be open for non-incumbents in 2024 since a lot of these people running for Senate won’t be running for the House. They can’t do much about the Senate seat, but they sure as hell will jump on the open House seats.”

“For Democrats, it will be a crazy primary and a crazy general. Porter, Schiff, Lee, maybe Feinstein, maybe Khanna, and a lot of others under speculation. Not to mention that a former actor or athlete might just jump on board as we saw with Pennsylvania and Georgia last year, as an added twist. That’s a lot of experienced candidates with established bases and a lot of money. I hope the people of California love getting one sheet mailers and seeing a lot of ads on TV and online, because it will be flooded next year.”

“Schiff is bringing in a lot of experience but also a lot of baggage. But, if anyone could get Feinstein’s early approval, if she doesn’t run, it’s him. And he can help ruin Porter’s plan on securing Southern California votes. This election just got crazier.”

Senator Feinstein is expected to make an announcement of whether or not she will run or retire in 2024 within a few months.