• Half-ton Rep. Katie Porter is running for Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat

    From zinn@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jan 12 07:06:44 2023
    XPost: oc.general, talk.politics.guns, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
    XPost: sac.politics, alt.politics.democrats

    Democratic Rep. Katie Porter kicked off the 2024 campaign season early on Tuesday when she declared herself a candidate for the Senate in
    California.

    The announcement comes despite no statement from longtime Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whose up for reelection in 2024, that she is retiring.

    Porter, first elected in 2018, released a video across her social media accounts stressing the need for "new leadership" as she showcased her progressive credentials as a lawmaker who "doesn't do Congress" like
    others.

    "I use whatever power I have to speak hard truths to the powers that be –
    to not just challenge the status quo but call it out," she said.

    <https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/11/14/USAT/0694947b-ef7f-46ba- 8a71-cedf04e3ae31- AP_Election_2018_House_California_Porter.JPG?crop=2935,2011,x551,y0&width= 660&height=453&format=pjpg&auto=webp>

    In the video, the congresswoman pledges to fight against Wall Street, the
    "big banks" and pharmaceutical companies. She added how she won't accept lobbyist or corporate PAC money, and favors prohibiting lawmakers in
    Congress from stock trading.

    "Especially in times like these, California needs a warrior in
    Washington," Porter said.

    Feinstein is the oldest senator currently in Congress and has been dogged
    by questions about her age and cognitive abilities.

    In January 2021, she filed paperwork to seek reelection, saying last year
    how she hadn't heard about those concerns.

    "I put in the hours. … And so I’m rather puzzled by this,” Feinstein told
    the San Francisco Chronicle’s editorial board.

    But the 89-year-old Democrat has taken a step back from her Senate duties,
    such as leaving her leadership role on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

    Feinstein furthered speculation when she turned down being president pro tempore of the Senate, which historically goes to the most senior senator
    of the majority party and is third in line to the presidency.

    <https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/01/10/rep- katie-porter-enters-california-senate-race/11023051002/>

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