California representative Adam Schiff launched his 2024 campaign for the United States Senate on Thursday.
Schiff kicked off his campaign in a video detailing the California representative's history as a lawyer prior to his career in politics.
"When a dangerous demagogue tried to undermine our democracy, I wasn't about to let him," Schiff said, referencing former President Donald Trump.
The California representative described his work in Congress advocating for healthcare legislation before taking on "the biggest job of [his] life" by advocating for Trump's impeachment.
"After all that, I wish I could say the threat of MAGA extremists is over," Schiff said. "It is not."
"Today's Republican party is gutting the middle class. Threatening our democracy," he said. "They aren't going to stop. We have to stop them."
"I’m running for the U.S. Senate from California because we’re in the fight of our lives to preserve our democracy and to build an economy that works for everyone," Schiff told FOX 11.
Schiff is seeking current Senator Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat which she has occupied for 30 years. Feinstein, who will be 91 at the end of her current term, has not publicly addressed whether she will seek re-election.
"She said she has not made a decision about her own plans. She would make the announcement when she was ready to do so," said Schiff, saying he had spoken to Feinstein regarding his Senate run. "I think she’s earned the right to do that with her own timing. I wouldn’t be doing this without her blessing. I want to make sure everything I do is respectful to her."
The California representative was removed from the House Intelligence Committee, along with fellow Californian representative Eric Swalwell, on Wednesday.
"Kevin McCarthy just kicked me and [Eric Swalwell] off the Intelligence Committee," Schiff wrote in a Tuesday tweet addressing his removal. "This is petty, political payback for investigating Donald Trump. If he thinks this will stop me, he will soon find out just how wrong he is."
"I will always defend our democracy."
Schiff's campaign launch follows fellow California representative Katie Porter's campaign kickoff earlier this month.
"California needs a warrior in the Senate—to stand up to special interests, fight the dangerous imbalance in our economy, and hold so-called leaders like Mitch McConnell accountable for rigging our democracy," Porter wrote in a tweet. "Today, I’m proud to announce my candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2024."
Fellow California Senator Alex Padilla assumed Vice President Kamala Harris’ Senate seat following the 2020 Presidential Election. Padilla finished the two years left in Harris’ term and secured a full Senate term in the 2022 Midterm election.
