This is my fourth diary on the California Senate race where incumbent Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein is seeking a fifth term. My first diary describes California’s unusual “top two” primary system where all comer are on the primary ballot and Democrats, Republicans and Independents vote in a “jungle” primary. The top two then meet in the general election, which can include two candidates from the same party. As an example in 2016 Attorney General Kamala Harris and US Congressional Representative Loretta Sanchez, both Democrats, faced off in the general election. You can find that first diary here:
www.dailykos.com/...
This latest poll, by Survey USA, shows Feinstein with a strong lead at 32%, with no other candidate higher than 7%. She will clearly be in the top two and be a candidate in the general election. This poll is discouraging news for Feinstein’s most visible Democratic Party primary opponent, Kevin de Loen who until just recently was the President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate. de Leon only polled at 5%, putting him behind Republican Stephen Schrader at 7%, and tied with another Republican at 5%. While most pundits believe de Leon will make it to the November general election, this is the first poll where he did not make the “top two”.
Most discouraging for de Leon is that Feinstein is ahead among Democrats 52% to 7%. While he has had a very high profile position in the State legislature de Leon is not well known outside his Los Angeles Senate district. California is a difficult state to engage in effective retail campaigning, and an expensive place to advertise with four, independent, large media markets. It’s clear that de Leon has some work to do to improve his name recognition, and visibility, to be certain he is in the top two once the primary has been completed. The Survey USA poll can be found here:
www.surveyusa.com/...