Democrat and Republican operatives are already planning for the 2024 election season.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is playing an instrumental role for Democrats, including in helping Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who is defending 20 Democrat Senate seats in 2024 compared to just 11 for Republicans.
Democrats are playing defense in deep red states like Montana, Ohio, and West Virginia, as well as swing seats like Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Arizona.
Florida or Texas are the only potential pickup opportunities for Democrats in 2024.
In California, left-wing Senator Dianne Feinstein created an open seat when she announced her plans to step down at the end of this term.
California Democrat Representatives Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee are all running for the seat.
But Adam Schiff is backed by Nancy Pelosi, who is putting pressure on Democrats behind the scenes to coalesce around Schiff.
Tara Palmieri of Puck News released a bombshell report about how Nancy Pelosi pressured her donors to get behind Schiff after she cut a deal with him to pull out of a bid for Speaker to allow Hakeem Jeffries to easily become the House Minority Leader.
Palmieri reported:
This crew of pro-female candidate fundraisers is also receiving an influx of calls from Nancy Pelosi, who has been hounding donors to support Adam Schiff for his Senate run. The intensity of Pelosi’s support has some wondering how much of this is about making good on her promise to Schiff, whom she vowed to support for the Senate seat in exchange for his decision to abort a run for party leader and cede the role to Hakeem Jeffries, and how much is about proving her kingmaker status.
Pelosi’s full-court press seems to be working in terms of quickly corralling the California Democratic establishment around Schiff. Joni Binder and Robert Shwarts, Charles Adams, Jeff Bleich, Olivia Ware, Marcie and Mark Tuttle and Rebecca Schumacher are all hosting a fundraiser for him in San Francisco on March 11.
Nancy Pelosi is heavily invested in this race for another reason as well.
If Schiff loses it will damage her status as a kingmaker in the Democrat Party.
But this is a high profile race in a deep-Blue state.
And donors pouring money into a race where a Democrat is guaranteed to win takes resources away from important races in swing states the Party needs to maintain power.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
