The candidates, from left, are U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), and former baseball player Steve Garvey on stage. During a televised debate between Senate candidates to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Monday, January 22, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damien Dovarganes)
Health care, wars in the Middle East and former President Donald Trump divided the top four candidates Monday night as they sparred in the first debate in the California Senate race.
Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, and Katie Porter, along with Republican businessman and former Dodgers star Steve Garvey, took to the stage at the USC debate to discuss the jab and baseball. They exchanged references for an hour and a half.
Of the four questions, the one that caused the most fireworks was the one about health care, specifically Medicare for All.
Porter, who has represented the Orange County district since 2019, expressed support for what he calls a “Medicare for All” system.
“I think we need to pass a health care system that provides the highest quality care, the most options at the lowest price point,” Porter said, calling it Medicare for All. did.
Schiff expressed support for an opt-in Medicare for All system, calling it “an efficient … direction for us to go.”
Health care “should be a human right,” Lee said, highlighting his track record of supporting single-payer health initiatives.
Garvey said universal Medicare would “strain the economy.” He asked about the Affordable Care Act, and Garvey said he believed it would work for some people.
It was during this period that Porter made his oft-repeated criticisms of his Democratic House colleagues from the debate stage. She said “career politicians” were not taking steps to improve the health system.
“Some people talk about buying companies and buying industries. Some of us have actually done things and accomplished things,” Schiff retorted.
A recent Emerson College poll shows Schiff, a Burbank Democrat, maintains a significant lead over other candidates ahead of Monday's debate, and his support is rising. There was found. Mr. Garvey, who came in second place, has also seen an increase in approval ratings, but Mr. Porter and Mr. Lee remain stagnant.
And although Lee and Porter were the most progressive candidates on stage, they used the debate to highlight their differences.
In his opening remarks, Porter reiterated his opposition to Earmark, which allows individual members of Congress to bypass the federal government's normal spending process and request funding for local projects. Earmark “invites corruption,” she says.
However, Lee takes the opposite position. “I believe in landmarks. I believe in not neglecting my duty,” she said, calling for federal funding to go to nonprofits and organizations working to address homelessness, LGBTQ+ people, and climate change. He said he supports pouring it into the country.
“Not fighting for every penny is a breach of duty to our constituents,” said Lee, who represents the Oakland district. “No, it doesn't solve all the problems, but it definitely fills the gap.”
“We are a donor nation. We send far more tax dollars into Washington than we get back,” Schiff said. “If California's senators say, 'No, we're not going to fight for those resources,' that would be great news for other states.”
Another difference between the Democrats is the Israel-Hamas war.
Prime Minister Lee called for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has launched heavy attacks since the October 7 terrorist attack and kidnapping of civilian hostages by Hamas.
But Schiff insists that Israel should be able to defend itself. He said he wants the United States to work toward a two-state solution, but does not want the so-called terrorist organization Hamas to take control of Gaza.
“No nation can refuse to defend itself after a terrorist attack,” Schiff said.
“If there is no permanent ceasefire now, many more people will be killed,” Lee said.
Demonstrators calling for an immediate ceasefire encountered the crowd as they left the debate.
Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, was the catalyst for some of the tense moments of Monday's debate.
Garvey has tried to distance himself from Trump throughout the campaign, but that wasn't an option after three Democratic opponents aligned him with the former president's policies — and Trump. 2024, when he criticized Mr. Garvey for not saying whether he would support him.
Garvey said he supported Trump twice in the past, but when it came to voting this year, he said: It is my personal choice and I intend to do it sovereignly wherever it may be. ”
“Once you're a Dodger, you're always a Dodger,” Porter said, reflecting on his 14 seasons with the MLB team.
Four Senate candidates will debate tonight.Here's what they need to accomplish
The televised event allowed voters to see a side-by-side comparison of not only these top candidates, but also the three Democratic House members vying for the seat long held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died in September. This was the first opportunity I had. .29.
But for those who missed Monday's live event, another discussion is already underway. KTLA will hold another contest with the same four candidates on Monday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.
