Congressman Adam Schiff is quietly lobbying Governor Gavin Newsom and his allies to nominate him as the next attorney general in California, according to people familiar with the matter.
Why does it matter: If Newsom selects Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and confidant of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democrats would lose a powerful voice in the US House party and temporarily give up a slim majority of 221-211. .
- However, Pelosi gave his approval to Schiff’s offer, a clear sign that she thinks she can survive without him. according to people familiar with the subject. Spokesmen for Schiff and Pelosi declined to comment.
- The work of the attorney general would also better position Schiff, a prominent Democrat who led Russia’s investigation of then President Trump, to run for Sen. Dianne Feinstein if the 87-year-old man decides not to run for re-election in 2024 .
- The position of AG is being vacated by Xavier Becerra, whom President Biden has appointed to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The big picture: Although Schiff represents the 28th district, based in Los Angeles, California, a safe seat for Democrats, it would take about six months for a special election to select his successor.
- According to Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, vacancies in the Chamber are not filled by appointment – as in the Senate – only by election.
Driving the news: As soon as Becerra is confirmed, Newsom will have the authority to appoint his replacement as attorney general.
- It would be the third high-profile appointment for Newsom, who chose Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate, making him the first Hispanic senator in the United States.
- Newsom then filled Padilla’s position with Shirley Weber, making her the state’s first black secretary of state.
The intrigue: Newsom, whose approval rating has plummeted to 31% in the face of a recall effort, has not publicly indicated who he is inclined to choose for the position of attorney general, but lobbying campaigns across the state are heating up.
- Other potential candidates are Rob Bonta, a member of the state assembly, and Rick Chavez Zbur, director of Equality California, an LGBTQ advocacy group, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
- “It’s very clear that there are defenders of your favorites,” said Bill Carrick, a political strategist in California. “But it is not clear whether this will have any influence on the one person who will make the decision: Governor Gavin Newsom.”