Feinstein in flux

Presented by Southern California Edison Company

THE BUZZ: After years as a consistent fixture of California politics, Sen. Dianne Feinstein has become its biggest variable.

We finally got a measure of certainty in February, when the long-serving senator said she would not seek another term in 2024. That was more confirmation than revelation: Would-be successors had already been positioning for her seat, and Rep. Katie Porter launched before Feinstein made it official. But Feinstein’s declaration finally moved campaigns from the realm of informed speculation and thawed a semi-frozen field.

But the clarity about Feinstein’s future wouldn’t last long. Within weeks her office revealed that she had been hospitalized with a case of shingles. Feinstein said at the time she hoped to return to work “later this month.” Her colleagues and constituents are still waiting — and once again, Feinstein’s hazy future has become a political preoccupation.

A zoom lens furnished a hint Tuesday. In an artful bit of Feinstein-ology, POLITICO photographer Francis Chung snapped Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s talking point that he was “hopeful” Feinstein would return to the chamber next week. A Feinstein spox confirmed that Schumer and Feinstein had spoken but offered a more fluid assessment, saying they “don’t have a timeline yet for her return to Washington.”

That ambiguity has produced some unequivocal calls for Feinstein’s resignation. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Monday the California Democrat’s absence was “causing great harm to the judiciary” by stalling confirmations, walking through the door Rep. Ro Khanna had opened. But Khanna and AOC remain outliers among congressional Democrats who have deferred to Feinstein and her doctors. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would go no further Tuesday than “we wish the senator a speedy recovery.”

And so the questions persist. The fundamental one — when will Feinstein return? — branches off into a cluster of contingent queries: What does this mean for raising the debt ceiling? If an ailing Feinstein resigns, would Gov. Gavin Newsom replace her with a caretaker? Or would Newsom elevate one of the three Democrats already running for the seat? Would he pick Rep. Barbara Lee — the only Black woman running — after vowing to elevate a Black woman if he got another pick? Would he call a special election before November 2024?

We may get answers next week. One thing we can say with some certainty: When Feinstein’s history is written, this question-freighted coda will be part of it.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. Senators will glimpse a familiar face this morning as Ana Matosantos, a longtime aide to Newsom and other governors, appears before the Rules Committee in her capacity as an appointed UC regent.

Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up at [email protected] and [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.

WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You can do this and spend your weekend in Alabama. You can do this and spend a day in Mississippi. You can do this and tweet out something to highlight a concern.” Gov. Gavin Newsom on governing California while fixating elsewhere.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

WE’RE HIRING — POLITICO is embarking on an exciting expansion in the Golden State and looking for another journalist to join our growing team as a California Playbook author. More in the job description here.

TOP TALKERS

— Feinstein ‘hopeful’ she can return to Senate next week, Schumer notes say, by POLITICO’s Katherine Tully-McManus and Nicholas Wu: Chuck Schumer spoke to Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Monday and the ailing California Democrat is “hopeful” she’ll return to Washington next week, according to notes the Senate majority leader held at a Tuesday press conference.

— ‘You can’t hide things': Feinstein, old age and the Senate, by POLITICO Magazine’s Joanne Kenen: The Senate is full of people in their 70s and 80s, and a smattering have served into their 90s. Some are remarkably sharp and spry. Others, not so much.

CAMPAIGN MODE

BIG BALLOT BUCKS — The California Apartment Association reported dropping a hefty $210,000 into a ballot committee controlled by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins Tuesday, more than double what it gave all of us last cycle.

— “Katie Porter’s book tour gives California Senate campaign some extra juice,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Benjamin Oreskes and Melanie Mason: “But Porter’s book also strays from the norm, exploring normally taboo issues such as the strain her job has put on her finances, her family and her self-image. She calls out fellow Democrats — and names names — for out-of-touch behavior and writes about the small and large indignities of serving in Congress.”

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

— “Charts show how Oakland mayor plans to spend $2 billion budget,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Nami Sumida and Sarah Ravani: “Under Thao’s proposal, the Department of Economic & Workforce Department will be merged into the Planning and Building department to streamline housing production and development.”

— “California has a 10-day waiting period to buy a firearm. Gun groups try again to overturn it,” by The Sacramento Bee’s Andrew Sheeler: “The Firearms Policy Coalition announced the legal action (Richards v. Bonta) Tuesday, joined by the San Diego Gun Owners PAC, the California Gun Rights Foundation and the Second Amendment Foundation.

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

— Hollywood writers’ strike gets support on Capitol Hill, by POLITICO’S Ekaterina Pechenkina: Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), who’s currently running for Senate, encouraged the WGA and studios to promptly negotiate.

SILICON VALLEYLAND

— “Google, Amazon lobbyists helped U.S. shape new Indo-Pacific trade framework,” by Bloomberg’s Emily Birnbaum and Leah Nylen: “U.S. trade officials have solicited the advice of lobbyists for Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google and other major technology companies to help craft the new Indo-Pacific trade framework.”

MIXTAPE

— “Nordstrom to shutter both downtown San Francisco stores, citing difficult conditions,” by the San Francisco Standard’s Annie Gaus

— “Third stabbing in Davis — suspect eludes manhunt after shelter-in-place downtown, at UC Davis,” by The Sacramento Bee’s Sam Stanton

— “Teen arrested, 2 others questioned in double stabbing outside Los Angeles High,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Noah Goldberg and Libor Jany

BIRTHDAYS

Scott Kamins of Kamins Consulting

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