California Senate Debate: Katie Porter Attacks Adam Schiff, Candidates Oppose Immigration Bill And Support AI Regulation
21.02.2024 - 16:39
/ deadline.com
There were few surprises at the third and likely final pre-primary meet up of the four leading candidates for California‘s open U.S. Senate seat, a race increasingly defined by a race for No. 2 behind front-runner Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).
The NBC4/KNBC and Telemundo 52/KVEA event at Universal Studios was perhaps the most muted of all three debates, with few fireworks and the candidates often reverting to their talking points.
Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) focused her attacks on Schiff, her colleague in the House, including a tiff over the value of earmarks.
“For too many decades, Washington does sweetheart deals for certain defense contractors through earmarks,” Porter said. “And there is a candidate on this stage who has done that, again and again, getting earmarks for his private corporate donors who are big defense contractors.”
Schiff responded, “We have a strong disagreement over whether senators should bring back resources for their state. I believe that they should. Senator Porter doesn’t believe they should. She prefers a political talking point.”
A poll on Tuesday showed Schiff leading, but Republican Steve Garvey moving solidly into the second place spot. The Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics/The Hill survey showed Schiff with 28%, Garvey with 22%, Porter with 16% and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) at 9%.
The top two finishers in the primary will go on to the general election, regardless of party.
That has created some interesting dynamics, as Schiff has devoted ad resources to spotlighting Garvey’s positions, a move that Porter has called “cynical.” Her point is that Schiff is trying to boost the visibility of an under-funded Republican rival in hopes of having an easier time of facing him in the