Feinstein Should Resign Now and Newsom Should Appoint Barbara Lee

I want Katie Porter to win election to the seat currently held by Senator Dianne Feinstein. However, we cannot wait until the 2024 election for Senator Feinstein to get out of the way of the progress that can be made if she were present in the Senate. She needs to resign so that a competent person can replace her. 

If Feinstein were to resign, Governor Gavin Newsom would appoint her successor. There is only one person to consider for the appointment, and that person is Representative Barbara Lee. 

The appointment would give Lee the advantage of incumbency, but it would also fulfill Newsom's comment in 2021 that he would replace Senator Feinstein with a Black woman if she were to retire before the end of her term. Though his comment suggests identity politics over merit, Barbara Lee is as historic a figure in Congress as anyone, and way more so than most. She is highly qualified to replace the aged and forgetful Senator who is currently not present to fulfill her duties.

Katie Porter has Competition as Lee and Schiff Say They are Candidates for Senate Seat

After Katie Porter made it clear to Dianne Feinstein that it was time for the 89-year-old, six term senator to retire when her current term expires in 2024, the establishment wing endorsed that with Barbara Lee telling colleagues the day after Porter declared that she also intends to run for the seat. Adam Schiff followed that with his official announcement that he is a candidate, too. 

Senator Feinstein still has not said that she intended to retire when she is 91 years old, but it is clear that Democrats young and old believe it is time for the ancient ones to move on with their lives. Despite these announcements resulting in a rather ungraceful exit from power for Senator Feinstein, the three candidates are all tremendously accomplished people who are qualified to step into the Senate from the House. 

Barbara Lee is the oldest. She was born in 1946. Schiff, born in 1960, is 14 years younger than Lee. Katie Porter is the youngest of the three. She was born in 1974, which makes her 14 years younger than Schiff.