Ro Khanna endorses Barbara Lee for California Senate

“We need a strong anti-war senator, and she will play that role,” he said.

Lee confronts other representatives. Katie Porter And Adam Schiffwho have each already earned key endorsements, from the senator. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California), respectively. As House Progressive Caucus leader, Khanna’s endorsement could help Lee build progressive support in what is expected to be a competitive — and costly — race.

“I have respect for them,” Khanna said of Porter and Schiff, “but Barbara Lee is a unique voice. She was the only one who voted against the endless war in Afghanistan. to the war in Iraq. She worked with me and stopped – trying to stop the war in Yemen and the resolution of the war powers.

Khanna also noted that there are currently no African American women in the Senate, and Lee would fill that void. “Frankly, Jake, representation matters,” Khanna told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

“The other two are great candidates, but I think Barbara Lee is going to be very, very strong.”

Feinstein, the longest-serving woman in Senate history, announced her intention to drop a 2024 candidacy last month. The 89-year-old’s retirement was widely expected, so much so that both Porter and Schiff launched their campaigns before she officially retired (though Schiff said her run was predicated on Feinstein’s retirement. )

California’s primary system allows the top two voters to qualify for the general election regardless of party, a system that is expected to pit two Democrats against each other in November 2024 in a solidly blue state.