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OAKLAND – The Democratic Party of California on Saturday rejected Senator Dianne Feinstein after more than two and a half decades in office, while party leaders approved his progressive candidate Kevin de León
. He gives a startling example of how the Golden State Democrats moved to the left in the time of Trump.
De Leon, a Los Angeles state senator and former state Senate leader, won 65 percent of the 333 delegates to the party's executive council, who are meeting this week to Oakland. Feinstein, one of California's most recognizable political figures, only garnered 7% of the vote after urging her supporters not to choose "on behalf of the party's unity".
De León appealed to the faithful health care and the abolition of the agency of immigration and customs. "Today's vote is a clear rejection of politics as usual in Washington, DC," said De León in a statement. "The nation's most accomplished Democratic Party is leading the call for a new generation of leaders who will fight to advance a bold agenda."
Still, Feinstein remains a strong favorite for November – she won 44% in the top-June "While 217 delegates expressed their views today, Senator Feinstein won by 2.1 million and won 70% of the Democratic vote in California's primary election, winning all of the two-digit county votes over his opponent, "said Feinstein campaign director Jeff Millman on Saturday. "We are confident that a large majority of California Democrats will vote to re-elect Senator Feinstein in November."
The support means that De León, 51, will be able to raise funds in coordination with the party and appear in the Democratic mailings. This will probably bring him a wave of national attention and donations.
Feinstein, who is the oldest US senator at age 82, had been asking for political favors in recent weeks to advocate for a vote without approval. His campaign sent a letter to the executive board members of half a dozen candidates in the party House in key California seats asking leaders to refrain from supporting Feinstein or De León. She was first elected in 1992 and has not faced a serious challenge for decades.
Neither Feinstein nor De León got approval in the primary campaign at the Democratic Convention in February, when De León received the support of 54% De León's support shot echoed other victories for progressives in the country in recent weeks, including New York candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who electrified the Liberals by beating the number four Democrat in the country.
Activists from Pro-De León burst out in joy at the Oakland Marriott City Center hotel as rumors circulated about his victory on Saturday night.
"This shows that the California Democrats are waiting for progressive positions from our legislators," said David Atkins, a Santa Barbara delegate, cuddling with fellow De Leon supporters. "We are part of a movement in this party."
The contrast between the two candidates was shown as they rushed between caucus meetings on Saturday.
"Seniority Matters", Feinstein told her supporters a breakfast of Bacon and Eggs, reminding them that she was the best Senate Committee Democrat who will hold hearings on Brett Kavanaugh, a candidate for the Supreme Court of President Trump.
"This man will be the decisive vote on the things that matter most to us" including Roe v. Wade, she said. She said that she and her committee would consider "more than a million sheets of paper" of Kavanaugh's past opinions and other documents about her record, in an attempt to claim against her nomination.
But De León argued that Feinstein's hearings is "We must close the Senate and never allow that person to come to the Senate," he said at another caucus meeting later in the morning. "What is at stake, it's a generation of power, decisions that will affect everyone of us."
Democrats walking in the halls of Oakland were optimistic about their chances of resuming the House in November. The most popular figure here was Rep. Maxine Waters, who was attacked by the president after encouraging protests against him and his employees. She won applause and a long line of fans hoping to snatch selfies by declaring Saturday that Trump "embarrassed us every day".
The Senate race remained the biggest divisive issue, separating the Democrats from liberal good faith issues. "You do not need to replace someone who does its job," said labor rights organizer Dolores Huerta, who was sitting next to Feinstein at his breakfast. "Why do you want to go out there and split the party?"
But supporters of De León said that they were ready for a more progressive vision while the Golden State faces the Trump administration. "I appreciate all that Dianne has done for the state, but it's time for new bloods and new values," said David Weiner, a Palm Springs delegate.
Lose party approval does not always mean much. When Feinstein introduced herself to the governorship in 1990, she declared her support for the death penalty at the state convention, loudly, in the lobby. Party delegates approved his more liberal rival, Attorney General John Van de Kamp. But Democratic voters on the whole were in agreement with Feinstein on the issue, and she won the primary this year.
Feinstein also lost the party's approval during his first race in the Senate in 1992.
"People who show up at the executive board meetings have never been Dianne's base Feinstein, "said Darry Sragow, a strategist who led Feinstein's campaign in 1990 and who is not working for any side this year." [De León] getting approval is not going to get him the votes he needs to win – but it will be an opportunity to put a point on the board when he has very little. "
As a sign of how Feinstein shifted to the left while she does facing De León, she said earlier this year that she is now opposing the death penalty.
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