By Mary O’KEEFE

Election year 2024 is shaping up to be interesting across the country but specifically in California where races in the U.S. Senate and Congress will see some familiar faces vying for seats.

Since 1992 Dianne Feinstein has served California in the U.S. Senate. At 89 she is the longest serving female senator and although she has not yet announced her decision to run again two candidates have already thrown their hats in the ring for the Senate seat. Last week Representative Adam Schiff announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate.

“We’re in the fight of our lives for the future of our country. Our democracy is under assault from MAGA extremists who care only about gaining power and keeping it. And our economy is simply not working for millions of Americans, who are working harder than ever just to get by,” Schiff stated. “And at this moment, we need a fighter for our democracy and our families, which is why I’m launching my campaign to be the next U.S. Senator for California.”

Schiff is serving his 11^th term as U.S. Congressman. He now represents the 30^th Congressional District; prior to this latest redistricting he served the 28^th District.

Schiff graduated from Danville’s Monte Vista High School in the Bay Area. He went to both Stanford University and Harvard Law School and after graduation he moved to Los Angeles to serve as a law clerk for Judge William Matthew Byrne Jr. He then moved on to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in LA as a federal prosecutor. He served in the California State Senate from 1996 to 2001.

He led the first impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump and just recently was stripped of his position on the House Intelligence Committee by GOP Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

“It’s disappointing but not surprising that Kevin McCarthy has capitulated to the right wing of his caucus, undermining the integrity of the Congress, and harming our national security in the process,” Schiff stated about his removal.  

Fellow Democrat Representative Katie Porter, representing Orange County, has also announced her run for the Senate office.

As Schiff moves to run for Senate, his Congressional seat comes into play and two local politicians have announced their intention to run.

Anthony Portantino, who currently serves as state senator representing the 25^th District, announced his candidacy for Schiff’s seat.

Portantino’s roots are deep in La Cañada Flintridge and the Crescenta Valley. He started his career of government service on the La Cañada Flintridge City Council, was mayor of La Cañada Flintridge from 2001 to 2002 and again from 2005 and 2006. In 2006 he was elected to the state assembly where he served until 2012. He has served in the State Senate from 2016 to present.

“While Washington continues to be dysfunctional and our democracy is under daily attack, there is no time for on-the-job training or ineffective leadership,” Portantino stated. “Congressional dysfunction is creating real, life and death consequences for us at home as our community suffers from gun violence, the impacts of climate change and politicians who want to push our economy to the breaking point. I am not afraid to take on special interests. But I’m also an optimist with a passion to serve and I want to continue working for you in Congress,” he stated.

Assemblymember Laura Friedman has also announced her run for Representative Schiff’s District 30 seat. Like Portantino, Friedman started her government service locally on Glendale City Council when she was elected in 2009. She served as mayor of Glendale from 2011 to 2012. She was elected into the State Assembly in 2016 where she currently serves.

“I believe that my progressive history of effective leadership on the environment, affordable housing, transportation and civil rights will make a difference in Congress, and I am excited to have this opportunity,” Friedman stated. “Following Adam Schiff will be a prodigious challenge. Schiff has been an exemplary legislator and a stalwart champion of American democracy who I will be thrilled to have serve us in the United States Senate.”