Photo courtesy Katie Porter for US Senate campaign March 3, 2023.
A new CA Senate poll shows Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. Adam Schiff far ahead of the other candidates. In fact, the two U.S. House Democrats are running almost neck-and-neck in the race. Porter of Irvine is favored by 17 % of voters most likely to cast ballots in the upcoming March primary. Schiff of Burbank is slightly behind with 16% in the latest Los Angeles Times/Berkeley IGS poll. Both kicked off campaigns for the seat last winter. Since then, they have courted voters and raised funds up and down the state.
Following the death of long-time California Senator Dianne Feinstein at age 90 last September, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler. The Democratic strategist and former union leader will serve the rest of Feinstein’s term but has decided not to seek election to the seat.
Photo from Adam Schiff for Senate website.
The third House Democrat in the contest, Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, is polling at 9%. Lee is very popular in Northern California but not well known in other parts of the state. Recently, she has been campaigning hard in SoCal. Locally, Lee has picked up numerous endorsements, including from Culver City Democratic Club, OC Action, San Diego Democrats for Equality, State Senator Caroline Menjivar, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Gardena Mayor Tasha Cerda, San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, and State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan.
Also, polling in the top four, former LA Dodger Steve Garvey with 10%. Garvey, a Republican, entered the race late last month. Still, the ex-MLB star is polling ahead of the two major Republican candidates, James Bradley, a Laguna Niguel businessman is at 7%, and Los Angeles Attorney Eric Early at 4%.
Meanwhile, former television reporter/anchor Christina Pascucci also entered the race recently. Pascucci is polling at 1%, along with Silicon Valley executive Lexie Reese. Both are Democrats.
Latest CA Senate poll shows many voters undecided.
One of the most telling indicators of this poll is the 30% undecided. That is a large number of voters who are on the fence, so the race could change dramatically as those voters commit. Another possible factor in the case is a controversy swirling around Schiff about his primary residence. Marisol Samayoa, a spokesperson for Schiff’s campaign, gave this explanation to CNN: “Adam’s California and Maryland addresses have been listed as primary residences for loan purposes because they are both occupied throughout the year and to distinguish them from a vacation property.”
Schiff is outpacing the field in fundraising
In terms of fundraising, Schiff reportedly leads all candidates with as much as $32 million in his war chest, followed by Porter in second place with $12 million on hand. Schiff and Porter appear to be headed for a runoff. Yet, a lot could happen in the final months before the March 5 primary.
