Schiff raises millions in California Senate race, catapulting ahead of other candidates

Schiff is leading in the polls in addition to fundraising despite being censured by House Republicans last month.

Published: July 5, 2023 2:09pm

California Rep. Adam Schiff raised over $8.1 million in this year’s second quarter, further solidifying his lead in the California Senate race.

Schiff’s Senate campaign has raised a total of $29.5 million, beating out the next two trailing candidates in the race, Democrat Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, according to Politico. Schiff raised $6.5 million in the first quarter of the year, while Porter raised $4.5 million and Lee raised just over $1 million.

Schiff has remained on top in donations and in the polls, with Politico speculating his clashes with former president Donald Trump and House Republicans are significant factors in his current success.

House Republicans censured Schiff last month for his repeated vocal support of the debunked Trump-Russia collusion hoax while serving as chair of the House Intelligence Committee, with Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna saying, “Mr. Schiff exploited his position as chair of the Intel Committee,” according to NPR.

Schiff's opposition to Trump has been a cornerstone of his Senate campaign, with the former president’s continued popularity coupled with his 2024 presidential candidacy keeping him as a concern for Democratic voters.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and over half of California’s Democratic congressional delegation have endorsed Schiff, according to Politico.

“It’s still very early, and while the polls will shift, Adam continues to lead in every metric that is critical to running an effective campaign,” said Schiff’s campaign manager Brad Elkins.

Schiff’s approval is high among voters 65 and older, with 27% saying Schiff is their first choice according to a poll from Emerson College. The same poll found Porter is preferred among younger voters, with 16.8% of 18 to 34-year-olds saying they would vote for Porter as opposed to 6.7% saying they would vote for Schiff.

The poll finds that nearly 50% of all voters in the state are undecided, as are 34% of the state's registered Democrat voters.