California Democrats Vie for Endorsement of Major Health Care Union in U.S. Senate Race
LOS ANGELES – The top three California Democrats running for U.S. Senate competed on Sunday for the endorsement of a major health care union during a forum that highlighted their similarities in policy positions.
Representatives Barbara Lee of Oakland, Katie Porter of Irvine, and Adam Schiff of Burbank participated in a 90-minute forum, fielding questions from a panel of reporters and moderator Lisa Matthews, a veteran journalist and top editor at the Associated Press. They discussed various topics crucial to California voters, including health care, housing, minimum wage, gas prices, and term limits for appointed and elected officials.
The forum, hosted by the Oakland-based National Union of Healthcare Workers, attracted more than 16,000 California members. The union will announce its endorsement for a candidate on Wednesday, along with Roll Call and the progressive grassroots advocacy organization, Courage California.
“When we come together in 2024 to vote for our next U.S. senator, we will be making a courageous action for change by electing a person who will serve as the backbone of our democracy,” said Shay Franco-Clausen, board chair of Courage California.
Notably absent from the stage at the union’s annual leadership conference in Los Angeles was California’s new senator, Laphonza Butler. Butler was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom last week to finish the term of the late Dianne Feinstein, who passed away on September 29. Butler’s term ends in January 2025, and it remains unclear whether she will run in next March’s primary.
During the forum, the candidates expressed their support for the Medicare for All Act, which aims to establish a universal, single-payer U.S. health insurance system. They also hailed Governor Newsom’s recent signing of SB770, introduced by state Senator Scott Wiener, which paves the way for universal health coverage in California. However, they emphasized the need to avoid tax increases in implementing such plans.
All three candidates also voiced their support for increasing the federal minimum wage above the current rate of $7.25 an hour and securing greater federal resources for housing in California. They proposed various measures, including trust funds, vouchers, and fully funding government subsidized housing assistance programs.
The candidates were also asked about Governor Newsom’s recent decisions on issues that intersect with their federal efforts. While they mostly backed or refrained from outright disagreeing with the governor’s actions, they criticized his veto of a bill that would have made striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits. They argued that workers should have access to benefits they contribute to.
In light of recent events in Israel and Gaza, the candidates condemned Hamas’ actions and expressed their support for policies regarding Israelis and Palestinians. Congressman Adam Schiff was questioned about his previous support for legislation that would limit U.S. aid to Israel, to which he emphasized his condemnation of terrorist attacks against Israel and called for a cease-fire to de-escalate the situation.
According to a recent L.A. Times-Berkeley IGS poll of likely voters, Schiff and Porter are leading in both polling and fundraising. Schiff holds 20% support, followed by Porter with 17% and Lee with 7%. Schiff also boasts a campaign cash of $29.8 million, while Porter has $10.3 million and Lee has $1.4 million, according to July federal filings.
Regarding term limits, all candidates support term limits for Supreme Court justices, but they have not advocated for the same limits for elected officials. While Porter said she has yet to decide, Lee and Schiff do not support term limits for members of Congress. They believe that elections provide voters with a means to remove officials they deem unfit for service.
The issue of term limits became more significant in California this year after Dianne Feinstein refused to resign despite concerns about her extended absences from the Senate and her mental acuity.
The candidates will continue to engage with voters ahead of the 2024 U.S. Senate race, where they hope to secure the nomination and ultimately serve as the backbone of California’s democracy.
(Contact Cynthia Dizikes at [email protected])