California's 2024 Senate race is shaping up to be a messy affair, from the confusion over Sen. Dianne Feinstein's retirement to the onslaught of candidates racing to take her place.
At this point in the 2024 Senate race, there is confusion over whether or not there will be an incumbent running. Feinstein appeared to clear up the confusion on Tuesday but later walked back her statement.
SENATE 2024: HERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO COULD VIE FOR THE COVETED CALIFORNIA SEAT
Here's how one of the country's highest-profile, and biggest-spending, Senate contests has played out so far.
Democrats are already lining up, with 11 candidates in the race, shaping up to be a fierce competition within the party.
Feinstein says she's out?
The oldest elected official and longest-serving senator appeared to put questions about whether she is going to extend her time in Congress to bed on Tuesday. Feinstein released the long-awaited and expected announcement that she will not run for reelection. However, she appeared to contradict her statement later in the day, telling reporters, "I haven't made that decision."
Feinstein's staffers told her they put the statement out that she was retiring, to which Feinstein responded, "You put out the statement? I should have known they put it out."
"It wasn't supposed to go out yet," the senator continued.
If she does retire, she said it stems from the death of her husband, which occurred last year.
"My term will be up at the end of next year, that seemed to be a good time. My husband just passed away — it's been about 6 months — and people keep asking, and I decided I'd answer the question," she said.
On Tuesday evening, a spokesperson for Feinstein said the senator had approved the statement announcing her retirement but said there was "confusion on the timing" of its release.
An already crowded field
Regardless of whether or when Feinstein was planning on retiring, other California Democrats were already lining up to push out the venerable veteran. As of Wednesday, there are 11 declared candidates vying for the Senate seat, including two household names, and others are expected to announce before the month is over.
The race got messy when two major candidates, Reps. Katie Porter (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) declared their candidacy last month. Both representatives had conspicuous timing for their announcements — besides the fact they started their campaigns before it was clear whether the incumbent was running.
Porter's early campaign announcement on Jan. 10 was slammed by Democrats, including Schiff, for her poor timing — California battled extreme flooding and severe storms that left several people dead and major damage to infrastructure across the state.
"We're not playing politics in the middle of a natural disaster that has left people dead," Schiff previously said, calling Porter's timing an "incredible mistake."
A few weeks after criticizing Porter, Schiff announced his campaign for senator on Jan. 26, a little over a day after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) booted Schiff and two of his fellow Democratic representatives from their positions on committees. He used the incident as fuel for the fire, launching his campaign against GOP leaders who "care more about power than anything else."
Much more to come
A Democratic primary may not end the showdown, as California's laws allow the two top Democrats to face off in the general election. Between now and then, several other high-profile candidates could throw their name in the ring, including Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), one of the Democrats recently booted with Schiff, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).
Rep. Barbara Lee (R-CA) is also eyeing the Senate seat but has stated she would not put her candidacy forward until Feinstein announced her decision out of respect for the senior senator. Lee is expected to announce her campaign sometime in February as a nod to Black History Month and her entrance as the only black candidate in the race.
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Endorsements are expected to play a major role in the upcoming 2024 California Senate race, giving candidates a boost among voters depending on whose support they receive.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has already endorsed Schiff for senator, and Feinstein said she'll "probably" make an endorsement for her successor at a later time.