Nancy Pelosi endorses Adam Schiff for Senate seat from California if Sen. Dianne Feinstein does not run

Former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed fellow California Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff on Thursday within the already aggressive 2024 U.S. Senate race for the seat presently held by Dianne Feinstein.

However Pelosi mentioned the endorsement applies provided that Feinstein, who at 89 is the oldest sitting senator, decides to not search reelection.

If Feinstein does run for one more time period, then “she has my whole-hearted assist,” mentioned the 82-year-old Pelosi, who in November stepped down because the long-serving Home Democratic chief after Republicans gained the chamber majority within the November midterm elections.

A spokesman for Feinstein’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for touch upon Pelosi’s assertion.

“If she decides to not run, I can be supporting Home Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, who is aware of effectively the nexus between a powerful Democracy and a powerful economic system,” Pelosi mentioned in an announcement launched by Schiff’s Senate marketing campaign Thursday morning.

“In his service within the Home, he has targeted on strengthening our Democracy with justice and on constructing an economic system that works for all,” Pelosi mentioned.

Pelosi mentioned the 62-year-old Schiff, who first ran for Congress in 2000, has devoted his life to public service. “Each time I’ve requested Adam to tackle the robust combat in opposition to extremist forces, he has responded with integrity, energy and success,” she mentioned.

The endorsement comes one week after Schiff, the previous chairman of the Home Intelligence Committee, launched his bid for Feinstein’s coveted Senate seat. His announcement framed him as a fighter in opposition to Republicans and performed up his one-time function as the highest impeachment supervisor within the first Senate trial of former President Donald Trump. Pelosi had picked him for that function, which led to Trump’s acquittal by the GOP-led Senate.

“They are not going to cease. We have now to cease them. That is why I am operating for the U.S. Senate,” Schiff mentioned in a campaign-launch video.

Feinstein, in the meantime, has not but mentioned whether or not she’s going to run once more or retire on the finish of her time period. Her Senate marketing campaign raised little cash within the closing months of final yr, current marketing campaign filings present, a sign to some that she will not be getting ready for one more run.

Schiff was not the primary Democrat to leap into the race for Feinstein’s seat. Democratic Rep. Katie Porter introduced Jan. 10 that she’s going to run for Senate in California, snagging the endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

Pelosi’s announcement by way of Schiff’s marketing campaign started with effusive reward for Feinstein and her prolonged profession in politics.

“Since her election to the Senate in 1992, Senator Feinstein has achieved a outstanding legislative file, all the time delivering for California and forcefully honoring her oath to guard and defend,” Pelosi mentioned. She referenced Feinstein’s work on the 1994 assault weapons ban, in addition to on the Violence Towards Girls Act and the Respect for Marriage Act, amongst different highlights.

“America is at a crossroads. We are able to proceed to raise our communities, strengthen our economic system and defend our Democracy — or let Republicans roll again our progress, threaten our freedoms and provides tax breaks to the rich particular pursuits,” Pelosi’s assertion mentioned. “In 2024, the combat for America’s future is on the poll.”