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THE Nooner for October 8, 2017

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DISTRICT UPDATES

• CA36 (Coachella Valley): added businessswoman/actress Kimberlin Brown (R)

AURAL PLEASURE: The team is together for the California Politics Podcast. The LAT's John Myers and Melanie Mason and KQED's Marisa Lagos discuss the what the governor's signature on the "sanctuary state" bill and Republican efforts to repeal the gas tax for transportation projects. 

I WON'T BACK DOWN: The LAT's Julie Westfall writes that Dianne Feinstein hinted on Meet the Press that she will indeed run for reelection, writes the LAT's Julie Westfall. Feinstein was on both Meet the Press and Face the Nation, and she seemed as sharp as a tack. On MTP, she responded to  Chuck Todd's question about the recent PPIC poll that found that a plurality of voters thought she shouldn't run again:

"There are polls and then there are polls. I'm ready for a good fight. I've got things to fight for. I'm in a position where I can be effective, and hopefully that means something to California," she said. 

Clearly, she's not ready to call it a day. From what I get from knowledgable sources is her concern about what happens if she is unavailable to serve a full six-year term, which would have her in office until the age of 93. If she decided to step down mid-term, the vacancy would be filled by whoever is elected governor in 2018. 

While Gavin Newsom is clearly more liberal than Feinstein (can you imagine her doing this?), they have many of the San Francisco elite. She endorsed Newsom for lieutenant governor in the 2010 primary, when his biggest challenger was Janice Hahn, then a member of the Los Angeles City Council. 

She would probably be comfortable if, a vacancy occured by an early retirement or otherwise in the Senate, Feinstein would be okay letting Newsom make that decision. 

The thoughts in the 202 are that Congressman Adam Schiff would be DiFi's preference to take over the seat. He's the ranking member on the House Select Committee on Intelligence, the same role Feinstein has on the Senate side.

Even if Feinstein bowed out of next year's race, if her preference is indeed Schiff, he could transfer his House reelection money to a Senate campaign and hit the ground running on some of the biggest issues before Congress. This is something that others looking at the seat don't have.

As of June 30, Schiff has $2.6 million on hand, a number that will very likely go up when the 09/30 reports are filed by a week from today. This is not easy with individual contribution limits of $2.700. That money could be transferred to a committee for Senate--either a reelect after appointment or for an election should Feinstein decide not to run.

Both John Chiang and Antonio Villaraigosa--the other prominent Democrats in the hunt for the corner office occupied by the governor--also would likely be okay with Schiff, as he is easily qualified, has passed the strictest background check to be on Intelligence, and has social views that match their own.

If there is a vacancy appointment, there is going to be a lot of pressure to appoint the first Latino to a California Senate seat. Barbara Boxer and Feinstein were the first women elected from California and, until the election of Kamala Harris in 2016, the only previous non-white senator was conservative Republican S.I. Hayakawa of Marin County, who beat incumbent Democrat John Tunney, who was pushed to the left by Tom Hayden's candidacy. Hayakawa didn't run for reelection in 1982 and Pete Wilson was elected to fill the seat. 

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, who is sitting on a war chest of over $3.7 million ostensibly for lieutenant governor (although he has endorsed colleague Dr. Ed Hernandez), has yet to decide on what he will do. If Feinstein decides not to run, he likely would run for Senate, although little of the money he is sitting on could be transferred to an account for the Senate. de León is somewhat stuck. He is termed out in the Legislature, has a new congressman in Jimmy Gomez. 

If Feinstein doesn't run, I would expect that he does. I don't see him as a likely candidate for appointment by next likely governor, unless it's late in that governor's term. The statewide offices are already very busy and, other than governor, none offer the opportunity for him to focus on his passion of the rights of immigrants. 

What could he do? I don't see him following some former legislators jumping into lobbying, as it would diminish the voice he treasures so much. 

However, I could easily see him being a "shadow voice." Former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder has been doing this on both the legal and media (traditional and social) on behalf of the State Assembly. While I don't see the State Senate hiring de León in a similar manner, I could see a network of immigrant advocacy groups pooling resources. It wouldn't be difficult for these groups, which also could include progressive businesses and chambers of commerce interested in immigration issues, to pool the $119,734 he currently makes, plus benefits. He would have access to money in his "ballot measure" account and would, as expected, move his LG money into a new account for--pick your 2022 ballot position.

Or, he could create his own organization. Lots of groups feel like they owe him for carrying the water on sanctuary state and his work on behalf of the bill for drivers' licenses for undocumented Californians.

He could continue to be California's leading voice on immigration as he arguably already is, albeit from a non-elected position. That would be a good position for him to be in to gain more of a statewide and national profile.

He would be the Howard Jarvis of immigration and issues affecting low-income.

Meanwhile, even with pressure within the state for any particular candidate, a governor would likely go to the "safe choice" of Schiff, who has been almost solely been focused on intelligence. No firebrand speeches on the Senate floor. Rather, he's seen as calm and collected in his familiar appearences on Sunday morning and other news shows. 

DISCLOSE: The governor signed AB 249 yesterday, which revamps the required disclosures on political advertisements, reports the Bee's Taryn Luna. The most significant change is that advertisements will be required to list the top three donors to the committee over $50,000. 

BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR: Among other bills, the governor vetoed AB 63 (Frazier), which would have extended requirements to gain a provisional driver's license from age 18 to age 21, unless the drive is a active duty member of the military over 18.

The governor has until midnight next Sunday to act on the bills remaining on his desk.

Anyway, we'll call it a Nooner day for now as I need to get over to farmers' market. Have a great Sunday. Broncos have a bye week, which after the disappointing results for my college teams yesterday, I am okay with that.

It's of course a Sunday street tacos at day, although a tamale from the lady on 8th and T sounds good on this chilly fall morning. As I gobble down the delicious goodness, if I run across anything really interesting that can't wait until tomorrow, I'll send it out. 

Have a great day and off to farmers' market!

#CAKEDAY: Happy birthday to Syrus Devers, Michael Kapp, Josh Kurpies, Rachael O'Brien, and Tammy Paster!

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