Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 26 February 2018

California Democratic Party

won't endorse Dianne Feinstein

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE more eager to back her Feinstein has been in Wash-
SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. Sen. primary challenger, state ington too long and hasn't
Dianne Feinstein failed to Senate leader Kevin de stood strong enough for im-
win the official endorse- Leon, who is touting himself migrants.
ment of the California as a fresh face with stron- When she spoke longer
Democratic Party as she ger progressive credentials, than her allotted time,
seeks her fifth term, another particularly on immigration. some in the crowd chanted
sign that the party is divid- However, he too failed to "Time's up!" — referring to
U.S. Senate candidate, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, ed over how best to battle earn the 60 percent sup- her lengthy tenure in Con-
D- Los Angeles, speaks at the 2018 California Democrats State Republicans in Washington. port needed to win the gress. Thirty-seven percent
Convention Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in San Diego. Democratic activists were endorsement Saturday at of Democrats backed Fein-
Associated Press Democrats' annual con- stein, while 54 percent sup-
vention. That means nei- ported de Leon. He called
ther candidate will get the it "an astounding rejection
party's seal of approval or of politics as usual" and a
extra campaign cash lead- boost to his campaign's
ing into the June primary. momentum.
With Democrats still lick- De Leon didn't appear to
ing their wounds from the lose support despite a sex-
2016 election, some of the ual misconduct scandal at
party's biggest stars, includ- the California Capitol dur-
ing U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris ing his leadership. His former
and U.S. Rep. Maxine Wa- roommate, Tony Mendoza,
ters, urged unity ahead resigned Thursday after an
of the midterm elections. investigation concluded
They reminded more than he likely sexually harassed
3,000 activists gathered this six women. De Leon had
weekend that President called for him to be ex-
Donald Trump is their com- pelled. Mendoza is running
mon enemy. for re-election but failed to
Though party activists re- win the party's backing this
buked Feinstein, she has weekend.
millions of dollars to run a Feinstein supporters, mean-
successful campaign and while, said her long track
polling has shown she en- record as a fighter for Dem-
joys wide support among ocrats and women makes
Democratic voters and her the party's best choice.
independents, a critical "She has so much seniority,
piece of the electorate in a it's hard to give that up,"
race without a Republican. said Cathy Jorgensen, a
The top-two primary sys- delegate from the farm-
tem in heavily Democratic rich Central Valley.
California allows the two Her political strategist, Bill
highest vote-getters to ad- Carrick, said the campaign
vance to the general elec- was "in good shape."
tion regardless of party But the party was frac-
identification. tured. It failed to unite be-
It's the first time Feinstein, hind a single candidate in
84, failed to win the party's the majority of statewide
backing since her first suc- races, including for gover-
cessful U.S. Senate cam- nor, where four Democrats
paign in 1994, though she's are vying to replace outgo-
lacked a credible Demo- ing Gov. Jerry Brown. “She
cratic challenger in previ- shows up now that she’s
ous races. being challenged,” said
Delegates who withheld Ana Gonzalez of San Ber-
their support said they think nardino County.q