Schiff leads California Senate fundraising race with $6.5M in first quarter

Rep. Adam Schiff’s California Senate campaign has so far raked in more cash than his two rivals combined, in what’s shaping up to be one of the most closely watched primary races of the 2024 election cycle.

The retirement of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has sparked a fierce competition between three House Democrats all vying to represent the Golden State in the Senate.

But Schiff is already off to a commanding start, after he announced a first-quarter fundraising haul of $6.5 million. The campaign of Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., announced that she had raised $4.5 million in the same time period. Coming in at a distant third is Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., with $1.4 million raised.

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Schiff said his campaign’s formidable haul came from grassroots donations rather than corporate dollars, and touted support from every part of California.

"Wow, just wow. Team Schiff raised an outstanding $6.5 million in the first quarter. Without taking a dime of corporate PAC [money]. With an average contribution of $45. From every county in [California!’ Schiff’s statement said.

"The grassroots support we've received has been incredible. And we've only just begun!" the former Donald Trump impeachment manager added.

CALIFORNIA DEM SENATE CANDIDATES ALL BACK FAR-LEFT CLIMATE PROPOSALS

Porter’s average donation was slightly lower, at $36. A statement on her campaign site said her $4.5 million is nearly twice that of what Vice President Kamala Harris brought in when she was in the Senate. Porter also pointed out that it’s more money than her would-be colleague, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., raised in the same time period.

"Californians deserve to feel confident that their next senator will fight for them, not corporate special interests," Porter’s statement said. "This is a people-powered campaign, and I’m so grateful and touched by all the support we’ve received so far from every part and pocket of California."

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Lee for comment. Her campaign told Politico that she "doesn’t need as much money as her opponents. She just needs enough money to get through the Top Two primary."

Both Porter and Schiff are prolific fundraisers for the Democratic Party. Their battle is projected to be one of the most expensive Senate races in political history.

Porter raised a whopping $26 million in the 2022 election cycle – second only to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and just ahead of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, then the leader of Porter’s party.

Schiff came in just after Pelosi with slightly over $25 million.

Michigan Republican announces bid to flip 1 of dozens of NRCC’s Democratic target seats in 2024

EXCLUSIVE – Michael Markey announced his campaign to become the Republican nominee for Michigan's 3rd Congressional District.

The announcement makes him the immediate frontrunner to take on Rep. Hillary Scholten, who narrowly won the seat in 2022. 

The 3rd District is seen as a key pickup for Republicans to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives. 

"It is with great humility and excitement that I announce my campaign for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District," Markey said in a statement exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital. "As a businessman, husband and father, I am concerned about the path our country is taking. We need a disruptor who will stand up to the Washington status quo that has gotten us into this mess. It is time for bold ideas to address inflation, usher in an era of energy independence, and disrupt the traditional ways of doing things in Washington."

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"I am humbled by the support my campaign is already receiving, and I look forward to campaigning against Congresswoman Scholten and her radical agenda that threatens our Michigan way of life," the Grand Haven businessman added. 

According to his campaign, Markey is a lifelong Michigander and entrepreneur. He started his first business – a claw machine at a local restaurant – when he was just 14 years old. 

On the heels of the 2009 financial crisis, he launched a successful investment firm, his campaign says. Markey's "days as an entrepreneur taught him how to disrupt the status quo with a result-driven mentality. Michael and his wife Vanessa have three children, who Mike says challenge and delight them daily." 

Markey previously ran among a crowded pool of GOP candidates gunning to oust Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Last summer, however, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled he and four other GOP candidates should not be included on the 2022 ballot after failing to turn in enough valid signatures to qualify for the August primary. 

Conservative Tudor Dixon won the GOP nomination but ultimately failed to defeat Whitmer in the general election. 

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In March of this year, the National Republican Congressional Committee announced that it will target 37 Democratic seats in 2024 in a bid to expand the House majority. Michigan's 3rd District was included on that list, and Markey is the first to tap in on that GOP offensive line. 

Scholten, a former social worker and immigration attorney, defeated Trump-backed political newcomer John Gibbs in November, making her the first woman to represent Grand Rapids in the U.S. House and the first Democrat from the area since 1977, according to the Michigan Advance. Gibbs made waves for his comments attacking women's suffrage after winning the GOP primary against former Rep. Peter Meijer, who supported former President Donald Trump's impeachment following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. 

In a profile published in the Michigan Advance Sunday, Scholten spoke of a "strong sisterhood in Congress" amid the growing number of women representatives. 

Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., the chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, described Scholten as a "real standout in this freshman class" who is leading the charge on key issues such as gun reform and combating child labor. For the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Frankel said the "abortion issue is at the top of the list" of priorities. 

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"She’s moved up pretty quickly in her short term," Frankel said of Scholten, who was named a ranking member to the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure within the U.S. House Committee on Small Business and vice ranking member on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on the Coast Guard. "She’s got an energy, and it’s like, ‘I’m a mom, and I’m here to fight for the families of this country.’"

In her first legislation introduced to Congress, Scholten and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., co-sponsored a bill last week that would significantly increase civil monetary penalties for those who violate child labor laws. The bills come after a recent New York Times piece revealed how migrant children "work brutal jobs across the U.S."

Manhattan DA’s office ‘asked for a meeting’ with law enforcement ahead of possible Trump indictment

The Manhattan District Attorney's office has asked for a meeting with law enforcement ahead of a possible indictment of former President Donald Trump next week, according to a court source.

According to the source, the meeting was requested Thursday and hasn't been set. The meeting is to "discuss logistics for some time next week, which would mean that they are anticipating an indictment next week," the source familiar with the planning said.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung reacted to the news by ripping district attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement to Fox News Digital, calling his investigation a "witch hunt" and accusing him of being in the pocket of President Biden and "radical Democrats."

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"President Donald J. Trump is completely innocent, he did nothing wrong, and even the biggest, most Radical Left Democrats are making that clear," Cheung said. "From Russia, Russia, Russia, to the Mueller Hoax, to Impeachment Hoaxes 1 and 2, and even the Unlawful Mar-a-Lago Raid, Democrats have investigated and attacked President Trump since before he was elected – and they’ve failed every time." 

"Now Democrats are at it again, pushing the 'Nuclear Button' and attacking a President because of a disgraced extortionist," he said. "This is happening because President Trump is leading in the polls by a large margin against both Democrats and Republicans, and there’s never been anything so blatant in American political history." 

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"Everyone knows it’s a sham. In fact, the Department of Justice stocked the DA’s office with top people from DC to help ‘Get Trump’ at a local level. Americans will not tolerate Radical Left Democrats turning our justice system into an injustice system to influence a presidential election, which is all they want to do. Our Country is not going to let this happen. This will backfire massively for the Democrat Party, and end in disgrace for our Nation," he added.

The potential indictment stems from the yearslong investigation surrounding Trump's alleged hush money scandal involving porn star Stormy Daniels. Towards the end of the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen sent $130,000 to Daniels to prevent her from disclosing her 2006 affair with Trump. Trump reimbursed Cohen through installments.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office declined to "confirm or comment," when contacted by Fox News.

California Dem Senate candidates all back far-left climate proposals

The three House Democrats who have announced they are running for Senate in California are proponents of far-left actions to combat climate change and have endorsed the multi-trillion-dollar Green New Deal. 

The Democrats — Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff — have supported aggressive policies to transition the U.S. grid from traditional fossil fuel sources to green energy like wind and solar power, argued for massive spending packages that would rapidly achieve such a transition and backed so-called environmental justice measures. The three have all recently entered the race to replace retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein and are currently the highest-profile candidates.

According to the League of Conservation Voters, a left-wing Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group that tracks how lawmakers vote on environmental and climate issues, Schiff has a 98% lifetime score while Lee and Porter boast 97% lifetime scores. The high scores indicate the three have a long track record of supporting measures backed by the far-left organization.

"From the devastating wildfires in my home state of California to the snowstorms in my birthplace of Texas, there’s no denying that the climate crisis is here, and the threat to the safety and economic security of our communities is growing by the day," Lee said after cosponsoring the Green New Deal alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in April 2021. 

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"In order to ensure a healthy and safe future for our children and grandchildren, the federal government must invest in bold policies that address the climate emergency head on, especially in communities of color and low-income communities that have experienced generations of environmental injustice," she added. "Our solutions must match the scale of the crisis—that’s why I’m proud to support the Green New Deal."

Lee's congressional website further states that fighting climate change is a top priority for her, noting that she has fought oil companies and is working to ensure "good-paying jobs created by the growing green energy sector are open to all, especially people of color, women and veterans."

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Lee also joined a congressional delegation to a United Nations climate conference in Egypt late last year where she reaffirmed her commitment to giving billions of taxpayer dollars to the international "Green Climate Fund" and warned the "window is closing fast" on saving the planet.

Porter has also been a vocal proponent of far-left climate proposals and signed on to the Green New Deal after she worked to strengthen "pro-worker provisions" in the legislation.

"Congresswoman Porter has fought to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for cleaning up after they drill, in addition to advocating for a future powered by clean energy," Porter's website states. "Congresswoman Porter is taking action to accelerate our transition to clean energy and make the United States a leading green economy."

"She is a proud member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, which advocates for policies that promote renewable energy, address climate change, and create good green jobs."

Porter has also repeatedly attacked the fossil fuel industry for its supposed "misinformation campaigns." In August, she introduced legislation that would remove taxpayer-funded subsidies from oil companies that were used to help the industry market products, saying "it’s bad enough these corporations poison the planet."

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And Porter made headlines during an October 2021 hearing where she blasted oil executives over how much federal land their companies have leased. In a live demonstration, Porter used candy and rice to show how much land the companies controlled.

"When you lobby and sue so that you can take more of our public land, you’re saying too much is never enough," Porter stated. "The American people are tired of this charade."

Finally, Schiff is the only candidate of the three Democrats to list climate change as a key issue on his campaign website. He argues in favor of the Green New Deal which he was an original cosponsor of, major new green investments, developing a "green economy" and leading the world in clean energy development.

"Climate change is real, our planet is on fire, and we must act. Now," he states on his website. "That seems like common knowledge, but half of our country’s political structure still refutes that simple truth. And worse, refuses to act on it."

"The Green New Deal is not just a bold plan for addressing climate change and beginning to right the ship, it also is an urgent call to invest in growing a modern, green economy that is equitable and just for all," he adds.

On Wednesday, he introduced legislation that would create a sustainable investment fund for federal employees that avoids oil, pharmaceutical tobacco investments. He said the bill would help federal workers use investments to boost "sustainable practices that will help combat the climate crisis."

He also slammed Republicans for passing legislation that would rescind a Biden administration rule allowing fiduciaries to factor environmental considerations into Americans' retirement accounts, an action opponents have argued could significantly harm the interests of customers by placing social priorities over financial interests. 

Democrat Rep. Barbara Lee to launch California Senate bid later this month: report

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., will announce later this month she is running for U.S. Senate in California to replace fellow Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, according to a new report.

Lee, whose political career began in the California State Assembly in 1990, will launch her campaign to become the Golden State's next U.S. senator by the end of February, according to a report from The Washington Post.

The timing of the move from Lee, according to a source the Post says is familiar with her plans, will come in accordance with Black History Month.

Lee, who has represented three of California's Congressional Districts in the House since 1998, told the outlet, "Currently, there are no Black women in the U.S. Senate, and there have only been two in our almost 250-year history. Our voices are sorely missed in the Senate.

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"My lived experience as a Black woman making true progressive change for Californians will give a voice in the U.S. to those who are currently voiceless."

Lee's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital about her plans for 2024.

Last month, Lee reportedly told her colleagues who serve on the Congressional Black Caucus she intended to run for Senate.

Other Democrats have also announced their intentions to seek the seat held by Feinstein in 2024, including Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., who both announced their bids for the Senate last month.

Those announcements come as Feinstein, who has represented California in the Senate since 1992 and is the oldest serving senator at age 89, has yet to announce whether she will seek re-election in 2024. From October to December 2022, filings from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) revealed Feinstein raised a mere $558.91.

DEMOCRATIC DARLINGS SCHIFF AND PORTER KICK OFF AN UGLY, EXPENSIVE FIGHT FOR CALIFORNIA'S SENATE SEAT

Should she announce her candidacy in the race, Lee could face an uphill battle when it comes to fundraising.

Porter, a progressive rising star and former pupil of Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, raised a whopping $25 million in political donations last cycle, making her the second-highest fundraising House member behind House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Porter's fundraising total even beat out that of her boss, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a renowned fundraiser in her own right.

Similarly, Schiff was the fourth-highest fundraising member of the House among members up for re-election last year, taking in just over $23 million from 2021 through November 2022. 

Despite attempts to position herself as a progressive "warrior," Porter and her political ambitions may be impeded by accusations of racist remarks and promoting a toxic work culture.

An ex-staffer for the California Democrat alleged that the congresswoman had made rude and racist comments to staff and said that she had "ridiculed people for reporting sexual harassment." The accusations came to light in December, but the news was mostly ignored by major news outlets.

Schiff, a figurehead of the impeachment investigations into former President Trump, faces his own share of intra-party backlash. A progressive group attacked the congressman for his record on Trump only hours after Schiff announced his run for U.S. Senate.

"Adam Schiff plays the role of Trump antagonist on TV, but a recent book details how he stalled and undermined leaders trying to hold Trump accountable in Congress. And he never challenges corporations or the Democratic establishment," Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), said Thursday in a statement.

Fox News' Sophia Slacik contributed to this article.

Schiff hit with ethics complaint one day into Senate campaign for using Trump impeachment video

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust on Friday filed a complaint requesting the Office of Congressional Ethics investigate Rep. Adam Schiff for alleged violations.

Last pro-impeachment Republican faces almost certain defeat. How did the others fare in GOP primaries?

Ten GOP House members voted to impeach former President Trump, and many have lost their Republican primaries, with Rep. Liz Cheney facing voters Tuesday.

Last pro-impeachment Republican faces almost certain defeat. How did the others fare in GOP primaries?

Ten GOP House members voted to impeach former President Trump, and many have lost their Republican primaries, with Rep. Liz Cheney facing voters Tuesday.

Pro-impeachment GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler concedes, as Trump-backed challenger Joe Kent takes lead

Washington state Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who voted to impeach Trump, conceded her race as Joe Kent Tuesday appears set to advance to the November midterm ballot

Dan Newhouse survives Washington primary after vote to impeach Trump

Incumbent GOP Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse, one of two House Republicans in the state who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump, has advanced to the general election as he seeks to retain his seat representing Washington's Fourth Congressional District.

Newhouse, a four-term congressman who has served the district since 2015, and Democrat Doug White were essentially tied in the race, with each capturing a little more than 35,000 votes in the crowded race to advance to the fall ballot.

Under Washington’s primary system, all candidates run on the same ballot, and the two candidates who receive the most votes in each race advance to the November election, regardless of party.

Because Washington is a vote-by-mail state and ballots just need to be received by Election Day, it often takes days to learn final results in close races as ballots arrive at county election offices throughout the week.

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The Trump-endorsed candidate in the race for the Fourth District, Loren Culp, a former Washington police chief, came in third. Following days of vote counts in the state, Culp, who also made a run for governor of the state in 2020, garnered nearly 30,000 votes.

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, another House Republican in the state who voted to impeach Trump, is facing a tough election in the Third Congressional District.

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In Washington's Third District, Democrat Marie Perez received the highest turnout, with 31% of the vote. Herrera Beutler, who had about 24% on Tuesday night, dropped to 22.6% Thursday night, 257 votes ahead of Joe Kent — a former Green Beret endorsed by Trump — who was at 22.5%.

A mandatory recount would occur if the margin of votes between the No. 2 and No. 3 candidates is less than half of 1% and closer than 2,000 votes, meaning the results for who will advance with Perez to the November election could be delayed if current standings remain.

Of the 10 House Republicans who voted for Trump’s impeachment, four opted not to run for re-election in this year's midterm elections. On Tuesday, incumbent Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer was defeated in a primary by Trump-endorsed John Gibbs and Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina lost to a Trump-endorsed challenger in June. Rep. David Valadao of California — which has an open primary like Washington — survived a primary challenge in June.

Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, co-chair of the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the capitol, is also preparing for a tough primary election on Aug. 16 against Harriet Hageman, a Trump-backed rival.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.