In a showdown for the U.S. Senate seat to replace the late Dianne Feinstein, candidates met on a debate stage at USC.
The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, Politico and FOX 11 co-hosted the debate on Jan. 22. Democratic House Reps. Barbara Lee (12th District), Adam Schiff (30th District), Katie Porter (47th District) and former Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey, the sole Republican candidate, are running for the seat Feinstein held for decades. Laphonza Butler, who was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newson after Feinstein’s death in 2023, announced in October that she wouldn’t run to keep the position.
After considering those questions I’ve decided not to run for a full term in the US Senate. Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign. I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go.
— Laphonza Butler (@LaphonzaB) October 19, 2023
Directly outside of the building the Los Angeles chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace and the USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation issued a joint call for the senatorial candidates to support a ceasefire by standing against “the US-backed genocide in Gaza,” according to their respective social media accounts.
The Bovard Administration building housed this political contest with audience members and students who were told not to applaud or disrupt during the debate except for a brief applause after candidate introductions. The audience was warned in advance that disruptions or protest during the debate would cause the attendee to be escorted out.
During the debate, the candidates spoke about the economy, homelessness, abortion, health care, crime, immigration and the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses.
![USC Senior Sophia Perez asks the candidates about the unprecedented housing shortage and “how [the candidates] will ensure the next generation can actually afford to live in California?” Over the course of the night a couple students asked questions to those debating about topics that included housing and speech on college campuses.](https://uscannenberg-uscannenberg-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/U4NKWQQHPVERVC5QB725IXJDY4.jpg?auth=88e3ce70025bc3a01bf6d904fffcbaa65df8a6e5f093cb24e6799391720506f5&width=800&height=533)
Moderator Elex Michaelson, Fox 11 anchor and host of “The Issue Is” asked Garvey about his support in the presidential race if it comes down to Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Garvey, who voted for Trump in the last two presidential elections, was evasive about who he would back in the primary election just over a month away or in a general election. “When the time comes I will do exactly what I said to you. I will look at the two opponents, I will determine what they did and at that time I will make my choice. I don’t believe Joe Biden has been good for this country,” Garvey said.
In response to the issue of homelessness, Garvey attempted to stand out by calling his competitors “career politicians” and proposing that they are out of touch with the priorities of those who are unhoused. “When was the last time any of you went to the inner city, actually walked up to the homeless,” Garvey said to the representatives. “I needed to talk to the people of this city, I needed to talk to the homeless. [I] went up to them and touched them and listened to them, and you know what they looked at me and they said you’re the first time anybody has come up and asked us about our lives.”
Lee called out this response by Garvey, calling it “patronizing” while referring to her own time being unsheltered, and how she could “not believe how he described his walk and touching and being there with the homeless,” Lee said.
Michaelson and Politico Senior Political Reporter Melanie Mason shortened the amount of time for each response to policy areas, hoping to address more issues.
“Everybody’s been going over time and we’ve had a lot of exchange[s] which is interesting and shows the contrast, but let’s maybe try moving this to 30-second answers instead of a minute if we can, going forward, just so we can get more topics in,” Michaelson said.
After this change was stated, the first question in regards to immigration and the border was directed to Lee. Her response’s length elicited two bell dings and eventually Michaelson’s interruption. Michaelson sent the question over to Schiff who then validated the need for time when addressing immigration. “This question deserves a lot more than 30 seconds,” Schiff said, before stating his own policy considerations.
Lee highlighted the importance of youth issues to her campaign.
“Young people as you know are graduating from school saddled with debt and have to live two to three people, two to three families together or with their parents… Young people need to know they can have a dream,” Lee said. “Right now they can’t even envision buying a home. And so we have to make sure young people are supported so they can study. That’s what they’re here for.”
In the spin room, Porter reiterated how she differed from the others on stage. “I was the only elected official on that stage who has never taken corporate PAC money, ever, in any race,” Porter said.
For information about the candidates’ positions check out Annenberg Media’s live updates.