Schumer Could Lose The Democrat Majority In The Senate If Larry Elder Becomes California Governor, Replaces Feinstein

 Carmine Sabia September 4, 2021

OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author’s opinion

There is more on the line in the California gubernatorial recall election than many had previously known and it could shift the balance of power in Washington, D.C.

Conservative Republican radio host Larry Elder, who is the current front-runner on the GOP side in the election, has now said he would replace California 880year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, with a Republican if he were to become governor and she stepped down or was otherwise unable to continue her term, Fox News reported.

“God forbid Gov. Elder should replace Dianne Feinstein who nobody’s seen in weeks,” he said to conservative radio host Mark Levin on his show Friday. “I’m told she has a worse mental condition than even Joe Biden. They’re afraid I’m would replace her with a Republican — which I most certainly would do and that would be an earthquake in Washington D.C.”

Feinstein, now 88 years old, has served in the Senate since the early 1990s and says she has no plans to step down despite some Democrats hoping she would. A New Yorker piece that came out last year reported House Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others had been concerned about her memory and ability to focus, especially during the Justice Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearings. Feinstein balked at the criticism. 

If Elder were to become governor and Feinstein were to retire, Republicans would be able to retake control of the Senate (currently split 50-48, with two independents caucusing with the Democrats to even the divide). Vice President Kamala Harris, as president of the Senate, breaks ties. 

Elder, a conservative radio host himself, has emerged as the likely frontrunner in a sea of mostly Republican candidates who include former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer; Kevin Kiley, a state Assembly member; businessman John Cox, who opposed Newsom in 2018; and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner. (Another candidate, former U.S. Rep. Doug Ose, withdrew last month after suffering a heart attack.)

“They’re scared to death that a blue state like California, God forbid they should elect a common-sense conservative Republican who makes an appreciable difference in their lives,” he said about the Democrats to Levin.

“This man that I’m going to defeat on Sept. 14, he shut down the state in the most severe way than any of the other 49 governors have,” he said in August at a rally. “When I get elected, assuming there are still facemask mandates and vaccine mandates, they will be repealed right away and then I’ll break for breakfast.”

And progressives are terrified that Elder will win the election. Billionaire George Soros has proven that by donating in a major way to current California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign.

The billionaire philanthropist and progressive, Soros, who financially supports and drives leftist causes all over the world, has provided an additional $500,000 to a political action committee opposing the California recall of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.

In 2018, Soros dumped $1.5 million into several Californian district attorney campaigns, when he aimed to unseat sitting prosecutors in Alameda, Sacramento, and San Diego countries, according to the Associated Press.

Soros’ contributions through the California Justice & Public Safety Political Action Committee aim to unseat sitting prosecutors in Alameda, Sacramento and San Diego counties and back Diana Becton, who was appointed Contra Costa County’s first woman and first African-American district attorney last year.

The races are non-partisan, meaning no party affiliation appears on the ballot by the candidates’ names. But several candidates Soros is backing identify as Democrats.

It’s a spinoff of the tens of millions of dollars he has spent previously to liberalize drug policies and criminal penalties; he is a frequent contributor to candidates seeking higher profile statewide offices.

The recall effort in California calls on voters to decide whether to remove Governor Newsom in less than two weeks on September 14. Under California state rules, Newsom is allowed to raise an unlimited amount of money as the sitting governor facing a recall.

Other candidates must adhere to strict contribution limits, effectively preventing them from outspending Newsom.