The clear choice for Senate: Adam Schiff

This week's debate showed why he is hands down the right person for the job

As you may already know, I’ve been a big fan of Adam Schiff for a long time. I have lived in his congressional district here in West Hollywood for 13 years now and have proudly voted for him in every single election. I publicly endorsed him on the first day he announced his run for Senate and even interviewed him for my “Duke’s Download” Instagram Live interview series. He’s done an amazing job in the House of Representatives and I have no doubt he will be an outstanding member of the Senate.

Earlier this week, for the first time in this race, the top 4 candidates to be California’s next U.S. Senator met at the University of Southern California for a debate. 3 of them are Democrats- Schiff as well as Representatives Katie Porter and Barbara Lee. The fourth is Republican Steve Garvey, who has no political experience and made his name as a popular player on the L.A. Dodgers baseball team back in the 1970’s and 80’s.

The debate was substantive and even combative at times, with most of the criticism going towards Garvey for his undefined policy positions and previous support of Donald Trump for the presidency. Porter touted her well known advocacy against the excesses of corporate America and Lee talked about her long track record when it comes to standing up for progressive positions, including her votes against the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars back in the early 2000’s. Garvey, while I disagree with him on almost everything, reminded me of Ronald Reagan with his light, cool demeanor and well coifed appearance.

In a different era, back in the 80’s when California was conservative and the political speculation about Garvey started when he retired from baseball in 1987, I can see how he could’ve been a force to be reckoned with in politics. But in a new era where California has turned left and Garvey refuses to take a stand against Trump, there is no chance of him winning.

I admire both Porter and Lee for their individual strengths and think they both have done a fine job in Congress. But what California, and more broadly America, needs right now in Washington isn’t someone who can give a good speech or take the most ideologically “pure” positions that will please the base of the party. We need someone who has proven that they can deliver solutions to our problems for the benefit of their constituents, and in my mind Adam Schiff is the only one who has done that.

Adam Schiff is and has always been a warrior for progressive values and the Democratic Party. But the key difference between him and his opponents is that he has actually delivered as opposed to just taking vocal stands. To name a couple of examples, as he mentioned during the debate- which most of the media reaction seemed to agree he won- he wrote the Patients Bill of Rights to secure healthcare for Californians back when he was in the State Senate. He also more recently succeeded in impeaching President Trump (twice!) when he acted as an authoritarian and tired to overturn our democracy.

Schiff isn’t a showboat. He’s thoughtful, cerebral (he started his career as an attorney and prosecutor) and has a laser like focus on achievements as opposed to theatrics. Porter Lee are commendable in many ways but California needs Adam Schiff if we are going to have a Senator who has the substantive heft and gravitas to represent our state effectively. I encourage all my fellow Californians to vote for him via mail when you start receiving your ballots early next month, or vote for him at your local polling place on Primary Day, Tuesday March 5th.