Rep. Adam B. Schiff outscored rivals in the race to replace retired Sen. Diane Feinstein, raising $8.2 million in recent months, according to a federal funding report released Saturday.

Mr. Schiff raised about twice the amount raised by leading Democratic opponents Katie Porter and Barbara Lee in the same period.

Mr. Schiff’s windfall was further accelerated in June when Republicans in Congress criticized him for his role in investigating relations between former Republican President Donald Trump and Russia. The Burbank Democrats repeatedly underscored this rebuke in their fundraising appeals.

“Mr. Schiff may have paid for this accusation in the sense that he got exactly what he wanted: ‘I’m someone the Republicans don’t want to win, and that doesn’t mean There is a reason,” he said. Jessica Levinson, Electoral Law Professor at Loyola Law School. “He’s such an eloquent and well-spoken attorney, but I don’t know how he could have made his case in a Republican way.”

Mr. Schiff’s winnings far outstripped Mr. Porter, the Irvine Democrat, who raised $3.1 million. However, she led Schiff by 19% to 16% in the second quarter of 2023. A poll of likely voters released last week by the California Public Policy Institute. Lee’s approval rating was 13%.

In recent years, Mr. Schiff and Mr. Porter have been one of the House’s most astounding fundraisers. But while Porter had to spend nearly $29 million in a tough Orange County re-election last year, Schiff has successfully amassed donations for his next term in office.

Oakland Democrat Lee received $1.1 million The period covered is from April 1 to June 30, according to a disclosure document filed with the Federal Election Commission released on Saturday. That’s the same amount raised by Democrat Lexi Reese. A Silicon Valley executive seeking a seat to run for office in his first election, Reese donated about $284,000 from his personal fortune to the campaign.

With more than a year to go until the general election, these numbers are crucial in assessing the prospects of candidates vying for a scarce Senate vacancy, representing California, home to some of the nation’s most expensive media markets. is. Television ads are a must for her statewide campaign to reach her 22 million voters in California.

The 90-year-old Feinstein was known for breaking down gender barriers even before she was first elected to the Senate in 1992, when a record number of female candidates won seats in Congress. rice field.

The San Francisco Democrat has been admired by colleagues in both parties for his intelligence and dedication to his job. But concerns about Feinstein’s declining mental and physical abilities have reached a fever pitch in recent months, and he announced in February that he would not be seeking another term next year.

Several Republicans are also running for Feinstein’s Senate seat, but their prospects are bleak given California’s progressive tilt. Californians last elected a Republican politician to statewide legislature in 2006 and have become more liberal since then. As of Feb. 10, 47% of registered voters were Democrats, 24% were Republicans, and 22% were undecided, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Republican attorney Eric Early, who is running for a seat in the Senate, said: Reported to have raised $201,176 Republican James Bradley, a Coast Guard veteran and former medical executive, had not submitted a fundraising report as of Saturday afternoon.

Initial/Bradford number?

The race to replace Feinstein is further complicated by California’s “jungle” primary system, in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, advance to the general election in November. The primary election will be held in March.

If two Democrats win the primary, the battle will continue until November, and tens of millions of dollars will be spent on the election. If Republicans win one of the top two spots, the Democrats they face will have a seemingly irreversible edge.

But one notable uncertainty is whether Republican and former Dodgers star Steve Garvey will enter the contest. He is expected to announce his decision this month. As of Saturday, 23 candidates had submitted their candidacy.

Mr. Schiff and Ms. Porter are frequent cable news appearances, popular among liberal voters for their respective stances against Mr. Trump and business leaders, and have been among the top fundraisers in Congress in recent years.

But since the two began competing for Feinstein’s seat, Mr. Schiff has surpassed Mr. Porter. Federal election records show that Porter raised $6.5 million and spent $2.8 million in the first three months of 2023, while Porter raised $4.5 million and spent $2.5 million.

Economic inequality widened in the second quarter of this year, Schiff raises $8.2 million spent $3.3 million, Porter Raises $3.1 Million The FEC said it spent $2.2 million. As of June 30, Mr. Schiff had $29.8 million in cash on hand and Mr. Porter had $10.4 million. They have more money in their bank accounts than they have collected through transfers from the Congressional Election Commission.

Mr. Lee’s campaign funding continues to lag behind that of his colleagues in the campaign. She reportedly raised $1.1 million We spent $817,000 in the second quarter. She had $1.4 million in the bank as of June 30.

A black woman in the House of Representatives since 1998, as Schiff highlights her struggle with Trump on fundraising and Porter shares her experience as a single mother in Congress and offers tips on meal planning. Mr. Lee emphasizes racism. Disparities in the Capitol. Only two African-American women have ever been elected to the Senate.

“We love you Barbara. I think you would make a great senator. But Adam Schiff, he just looks like a senator,” Lee wrote in an email to supporters. In my email, I paraphrased the comments I received. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that phrase during my campaign. It breaks my heart to be honest.”