Los Angeles Times endorses Schiff for California Senate seat

The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board endorsed Rep. Adam Schiff in the competitive race to replace the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, citing the California Democrat’s “extraordinary leadership” in protecting the country — and democracy — from former President Donald Trump.

The Times praised all three Democrats in the race, describing Schiff, Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Katie Porter as “smart, experienced, savvy members of the House who could represent California well in the Senate.”

But Schiff, the Times said, “stands out for his extraordinary leadership over the last several years in helping to protect the nation’s institutions, the rule of law and American democracy itself from former President Trump.”

Schiff rose to national prominence when he was tapped by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (who has endorsed Schiff in his Senate bid) to lead the first impeachment investigation into Trump for allegedly withholding aid to Ukraine on the condition that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy open an investigation into Joe Biden’s son, Hunter.

“Schiff, who has the support of more than 60% of the California House delegation, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seems the most ready to lead statewide,” the Times’ editorial board writes.

Schiff later served on the high-profile House Jan. 6 committee, laying out Trump’s role in fomenting the attack that day on the Capitol.

Beyond his experience taking on Trump, Schiff is “a team player, practiced in the art of compromise and someone who, despite the vilification from Trumpland, has the respect of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. That’s important for California,” the Times said in the endorsement.

A special election will be held March 5, with the top two vote-getters advancing regardless of party affiliation. Democrat Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to fill the vacancy after Feinstein's death, is not running.

Schiff holds a slight lead in the expensive Senate race, according to a new poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. He has the support of 21 percent of likely voters, followed by Porter with 17 percent and Republican Steve Garvey with 13 percent, according to the poll.

Garvey is a former baseball star with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. The Times wrote that he “has no legislative experience and has never held public office. … The U.S. Senate is the major league of lawmaking. Why should Californians want a rookie to represent them?”