Schiff holds edge in California Senate race, but plurality undecided: poll

by Julia Mueller - 11/17/23 12:12 PM ET

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during a House Judiciary Committee Field Hearing, Monday, April 17, 2023, in New York. Republicans upset with former President Donald Trump’s indictment are escalating their war on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg who charged him, trying to embarrass him on his home turf. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) holds the edge in the competitive California Senate race for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) seat, new polling shows.

An Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey of California voters, released Friday, found Schiff took 16 percent of support, followed by fellow Rep. Katie Porter’s (D-Calif.) 13 percent.

Republican former baseball great Steve Garvey, who joined the race last month, got 10 percent — and Rep. Barbara Lee, another Democratic California lawmaker, got 9 percent.

Other contenders got 3 percent or less — but a whopping 39 percent of voters say they’re still undecided about who they support in the race.

Since a June poll, Schiff’s support went up 1 point and Porter’s went down 1 point — while Lee’s ticked up 3 points.

A Berkeley IGS poll from September had also found Schiff ahead with 20 percent, again followed closely by Porter with 17 percent.

The three congressional California Democrats are jockeying in a closely watched primary for Feinstein’s seat, which is currently held by Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), who was appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to fill the vacancy — but she has said won’t jump into the 2024 race to continue serving.

Schiff, who jumped into the race back in January, has been endorsed by the majority of House Democrats representing California.

The Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics poll was conducted November 11-14 among 1,000 registered voters, with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.