OAKLAND, Calif._California Democratic Party leaders took a step to the left Saturday night, endorsing liberal state lawmaker Kevin de Leon for Senate over Democratic icon Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
De Leon's victory reflected the increasing strength of the state party's liberal activist core, which was energized by the election of Republican President Donald Trump.
It was also a stinging rebuke of Feinstein, indicating that Democratic activists in California have soured on her record of pragmatism and deference for bipartisanship while Trump and the Republican-led Congress are attacking Democratic priorities on immigration, health care and environmental protections.
Feinstein's failure to win the party's endorsement will likely have a small effect on the general election. She trounced De Leon, a former state Senate leader from Los Angeles, in the June primary and has amassed 10 times more cash, according to the latest campaign finance filings.
"Whether you have the endorsement or not, it's only as good as your campaign," Feinstein's political strategist Bill Carrick said. "She won every county, every demographic and 70 percent of the votes for Democrats."
As the vote approached, Feinstein appeared to have little expectation of winning her party's seal of approval. Instead she urged party leaders not to endorse a candidate for the November election, calling for party unity as Democrats try to regain control of Congress in the November election.
De Leon's supporters dismissed Feinstein's plea as a thinly veiled attempt to avoid what turned out to be an embarrassing defeat for the 85-year-old senator.
Despite his disadvantages against an incumbent who's been in office for a quarter century, the 51-year-old De Leon said that he knew if he survived the June primary by finishing in the top two he would have legitimate chance.
"We always believe strongly if we had a one-on-one matchup we could provide a huge contrast for the voters of California," De Leon said. "Right now, Californians want bold leadership. Then don't want tepid, half-hearted measures by the senior senator in a very difficult period in our nation's history."
