The race for Dianne Feinstein’s California Senate seat just added another candidate

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LOS ANGELES TV ANCHOR RUNNING FOR US SENATE

Via Gillian Brassil...

Long-time Los Angeles television reporter Christina Pascucci launched her campaign for U.S. Senate Wednesday.

Her bid is a long-shot among House Democrats who are running to succeed late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. But she’s hoping to make a lane for herself as a Washington D.C. outsider who prioritizes centrist Democratic policies and bipartisanship.

“I feel like our current leaders are spending too much time pointing fingers,” Pascucci said in an interview with The Bee. “I see myself as the voice of reason.”

Pascucci, 38, says her 15 years in television news — including overseas and in war zones — has prepared her well for listening to constituents’ needs, combating disinformation and researching legislative impacts.

“It’s critical to look at each issue we tackle through the eyes of a journalist,” Pascucci said.

Pascucci has been a reporter and anchor for Los Angeles’ KTLA and Fox 11, which she left Tuesday to run for Senate.

Being pregnant with her and her husband’s first child pushed Pascucci to run: She wants her daughter to live in a better world — in some ways, more like the California Pascucci remembers growing up in.

“She’s my ‘why,’” Pascucci said.

Pascucci faces stiff Democratic competition from Southern California Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, who so far have led the race. Rep. Barbara Lee has trailed them in polls and fundraising.

Former baseball player Steve Garvey is hoping to gain traction running as a Republican in the left-leaning state. It is unclear if Feinstein’s immediate successor, Sen. Laphonza Butler, will try to run for a permanent seat.

Pascucci’s campaign is run by Bill Burton, a spokesman for former President Barack Obama. Burton had been working for another Senate candidate, tech executive Lexi Reese, but had separated from her campaign.

Among Pascucci’s top issues are public safety, affordable housing, workers’ rights and mental health resources. She says people deserve to feel “safe and like you have a real shot of living here,” which she says has been hindered by crime and high housing prices.

Mental health funding is personal for Pascucci, who wondered how early intervention would have helped one of her family members. Improving that care adds to her ideal image of California, where children have more educational support, small businesses thrive and people have a general sense of safety.

“I dream of a California where people work hard,” she said, “and can live out that American dream.”

SEN. LAPHONZA BUTLER GETS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Via David Lightman...

Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., will serve on four Senate committees, notably Judiciary and Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs.

Butler was sworn in earlier this month to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died Sept. 29. Feinstein was a senior member of judiciary, which considers judicial nominations and gun and anti-crime legislation..

She will also serve on the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs and Rules Committees.

But she will not join the powerful appropriations committee, leaving California without a member of the panel, which makes key spending decisions. Feinstein was a senior committee member. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Ind.-Ariz., got the vacant seat.

In another move. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., will join the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“California and China hold the keys to solving the climate crisis. As two of the world’s largest economies, our partnership is essential to delivering climate action for our communities and beyond.”

- California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is planning a trip to China next week.

Best of The Bee:

• A group of local organizers affiliated with national parents’ rights groups and anti-trans groups are marching to the governor’s home on Saturday as part of a “worldwide” Stop the War on Children rally, via Jenavieve Hatch.

• Three years and tens of millions of taxpayer dollars later, California animal shelters are euthanizing more healthy, adoptable dogs and cats than ever. What went wrong? Via Andrew Sheeler.

• The Sacramento Central Labor Council has endorsed Kevin McCarty for mayor, prompting a fight to heat up between two of the other candidates, via Theresa Clift.

• All 12 California Republicans stood Wednesday behind Rep. Jim Jordan, whose second bid for Speaker of the House of Representatives fell well short of the required 217 votes, via Gillian Brassil and David Lightman.