California Continues To Be The Epicenter Of The Democratic Civil War

The Democratic Party in 2017 is a party defined by the internecine warfare between the Sanders and Clinton wings of the Party. In May, that story exploded to the forefront of Democratic Party politics when the California Democratic Party met to elect a new party chairman. The battle was ultimately won by the Democratic establishment, but not before a mountain of headlines showing the California Democratic Party consumed by turmoil and discord.

Now, Senator Dianne Feinstein’s decision to run for re-election has the California Democratic Party once again at the center of the Democratic civil war, with the Sanders allies looking to take her on in a primary:

“Feinstein has bucked the left-wing of her party on occasion, including during the state’s recent push to enact single-payer healthcare, and she is almost certain to face a primary challenge. On social media, allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., were quick to express their hunger for a fight.”

The fight to take on Senator Feinstein will certainly drag the California Democratic Party even further to the left, as the Daily Kos’ Markos Moulitsas saying he wants to “beat the most pro-Trump Blue-state Dem in the country!”

Worryingly for the Democratic Party, activists aren’t the only ones jumping at the chance to attack Senator Dianne Feinstein this week; Democratic politicians are echoing activist’s comments too. Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) said that the longtime Senator was “out of touch with the grassroots”:

“Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who has backed Justice Democrats, called Feinstein ‘out of touch with the grassroots’ on economic and foreign policy. ‘The fact that the establishment is rallying around her re-election shows that DC insiders continue to privilege protecting one of their own over the voters’ concerns,’ added Khanna.”

Politico also reported that Congressman Khanna was pushing multiple Democratic politicians to primary Senator Feinstein next year:

“Arguing it’s time for Democrats ‘to move on’ and better represent the progressive grassroots, freshman House Democrat Ro Khanna of Silicon Valley on Monday said he has contacted Rep. Barbara Lee, one of the most liberal members of Congress, and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich to urge them to challenge Feinstein’s reelection in 2018.”

With Senator Dianne Feinstein and the extreme left wing both eager to take the other on, this promises to make California’s Senate race one of the most expensive primaries ever.