California Democrats Divided in Battle for Feinstein's Senate Seat

Senator Dianne Feinstein's return to the Senate after a prolonged absence due to shingles has preserved the dynamics of the California Senate race, as her resignation could have given an insurmountable edge to a potential replacement appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Representatives Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff, and Katie Porter are all vying for the seat, but assuming Feinstein stays through the end of her term, none of them will be getting Newsom’s nod or the powers of incumbency. Feinstein's endorsement may not move the needle, and could even be a liability with progressive voters who want to shift California’s Senate representation to the left.