The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) hosted the leading California Senate candidates in a forum to contend for the union’s endorsement for the 2024 Senate primary. The event was paneled by journalists from Roll Call, The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times.
The 2024 election cycle features the fiercest California Senate race in more than 30 years. With Senator Dianne Feinstein’s deteriorating health in the public eye, competition for the seat had started well before her passing last week. Representatives Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have emerged as the top contenders, and have been campaigning actively since early this year.
The trio addressed 20 questions in total, including inquiries about healthcare policies, minimum wage, the Israel-Palestine conflict and a potential Laphonza Butler campaign, Newsom’s interim replacement to finish out Feinstein’s Senate term.
Here’s the rundown of what went down on stage.
Healthcare policies and minimum wage
All three candidates expressed full support for protecting civil liberties and expanding the benefits for healthcare workers.
Porter’s campaign is centered on standing up to big corporations and protecting consumer interests. She advocated for the “strongest civil rights protections possible” and said, “Washington should reset the rules.” Rep. Schiff called for addressing the problems with healthcare policies and developing metrics to better assess what is working and what is not. Lee suggested families are critical in health crises and should be engaged in “identifying mental stress.”
All candidates supported raising the minimum wage. Lee, when asked to provide a specific amount, proposed $50 an hour. Schiff referred to his working-class father and suggested $25. Porter proposed $20 per hour as the federal minimum wage and $25 for California, though she said wages should be indexed to inflation.
All three Representatives used this section to reach out to younger voters.
Schiff encouraged the growth of a younger healthcare workforce by calling for forgiving student debt, raising educators’ salaries, and training healthcare workers. Porter said the government should “pay them more,” and said the nation “will have a mental health system [that it needs] if we treat mental health workers with respect.” Lee echoed her colleagues’ support for healthcare workers.
Senate Bill 799
Gov. Newsom vetoed SB 799 last week, which would have given striking workers access to unemployment benefits. Poised in front of a union that represents more than 16,000 healthcare workers, each candidate said they disagreed with Newsom’s decision.
Lee began with a salute to labor unions and California’s charge on the labor movement, and said striking workers have a right to unemployment benefits, “You get what you paid in,” she said.
Schiff plugged his legislation that aims to provide unemployment compensation for striking workers, saying, “We need to make sure that the working people are protected.” He also called for solutions to make contract bargaining easier and more enforceable.
“Nobody should go hungry for using their legal rights to better themselves and better our entire country’s economy,” said Porter, adding, “Governor Newsom was wrong here.” She said there should be protections for workers who have voted to unionize but have not yet reached a contract deal.
Laphonza Butler
The panel asked the candidates whether Sen. Butler should join the Senate race and if they thought she would. The candidates welcomed the prospect of a Butler campaign.
All three said they would remain committed to the race no matter Butler’s decision. “Competitive elections are the heart of democracy,” said Porter.
Butler is the former president of a branch of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). In 2019, she advised Uber on how to avoid classifying its drivers as employees. When asked if this record would affect her in the race for Senate, the candidates avoided taking a stance.
Lee said “It is important to have all of [their] records laid out in front of the voters” and to let the people decide.
Schiff took the same route and did not directly say how Butler’s history would impact her campaign.
Porter kicked the ball to Butler’s court, saying, “Senator Butler now has the opportunity to show Californians where she stands on the issue.” She offered positive regard for Butler’s past experiences with union workers and said she is “excited” to see how Butler would create more high-paying union jobs for California.
Paychecks during government shutdown
In a question submitted by a NUHW member, the panel asked the candidates to share whether they believe members of Congress should continue to receive pay during a complete government shutdown.
Lee began by saying everyone in government should follow the “same rules” as employees on furlough and said she would “certainly” support a change in the current rules. Other federal employees do not have this same protection and will not be paid during a shutdown. However, they will receive back pay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 once the shutdown is lifted.
Schiff claimed he wrote to the House amid the potential shutdown to request they withhold his pay until other federal employees received their paychecks. “I don’t think members of Congress should be paid while federal employees and others are going without a paycheck,” he said.
Porter did not follow suit. Instead, she said there should be a better structure for how federal employees are paid so future shutdowns do not force federal workers to rely on “food banks,” and that Congress members should not be added to the list. She said Congress members supporting their withheld paychecks reflects their privilege. Porter added her paycheck goes toward her mortgage and groceries. “Does my kid going to bed with an empty stomach ease the pain of everybody else’s?” she said, later adding “I am proud to be a member of Congress who lives on their paycheck.”
Israel-Palestine conflict
Hamas militants surprise-attacked the Gaza Strip Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas.
The candidates all condemned the attacks on Israel. Adam Schiff likened the bombing to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and said he stands “shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people.”
Porter also voiced support for Israel and condemned the loss of life on both sides. Porter placed blame on the US for allowing “terrorism to flourish” by refusing to take a strong stand against Iran but warned against a repetition of the anti-Muslim hatred that followed the 9/11 attacks.
“I have always stood for Israel,” said Lee, who said she calls for a ceasefire. Lee has also supported H.R. 2590, legislation that would place restrictions on US aid to Israel to ensure the funds are not used to detain Palestinian children.
Term limits for office
Porter is fairly new to Congress and is currently on her second term as a House member. Schiff is in his 12th term and Lee is serving out her 13th term.
When asked if they supported term limits, Porter did not offer an affirmative answer. “The American people have told us again and again that they want diverse leadership,” Porter said. “They want an America that looks like them.” She stressed this means Congress should include multigenerational leadership, incorporating both experienced and newer members into government leadership.
Schiff said he does not support term limits for Congress and instead attributed long Congressional terms to gerrymandering. Schiff said he supports imposing term limits for the Supreme Court. “The life tenure of a Supreme Court Justice has led to their arrogance,” he said.
Lee said she also does not support term limits on Congressmembers, stating it would take away from the American people’s right to vote for who they want. She agreed the Supreme Court should have term limits and be expanded.
Jabs at Republicans
The panel asked if the candidates had a preferred Republican successor to former Speaker McCarthy. Lee said she “absolutely” did not have a preference. She added, “This is a civil war” between the Democrats and Republicans. Lee said the House should elect Hakeem Jeffries as the Speaker if they want to work in a bipartisan fashion.
Porter shared Lee’s stance. She did not have a favorite Republican to take over the Speaker gavel because there is no Republican who supports abortion rights, making all of them “unacceptable” to her.
Schiff directly prodded the former president, saying, “Certainly not Donald Trump,” and joked his endorsement would probably not help any of the Republicans. However, Schiff praised Jeffries as being able to “do people’s business.” Attendee and union member Leemore Federman viewed Schiff as someone willing to work with the Republicans to “get things done” and “pass legislation.”
The NUHW endorsement, based solely on the vote of union members, will be announced on Wednesday, October 11.