Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday endorsed Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) in her bid for the US Senate in 2024.
Porter is the first candidate to throw his hat in the ring for the seat currently held by Sen. 89-year-old Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who said she will announce a decision on whether she will seek another term “at the appropriate time.” Porter told CNN he hasn’t had a chance to talk to Feinstein about her offer.
Warren said the progressive California Democrat was a consumer law student at Harvard Law School, adding that the two had known each other before they were members of Congress.
“He’s smart and he’s got a backbone made of steel,” Warren said in a video posted on Twitter. “He’s standing up to Wall Street and Big Pharma. He’s in charge of fossil fuel companies.
Warren also made a reference to Porter’s use of the white board during a congressional hearing to grill powerful people on Capitol Hill, which earned a clip that went viral on social media.
“We need him and the slate in the United States Senate,” Warren said.
Warren’s endorsement marks a big show of support for Porter ahead of what will be a tough race.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) has told her colleagues that she is planning to run, while Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also thought that mulling to join the race.
Porter endorsed Warren during her presidential run for several months because now-Vice President Kamala Harris, who Porter also considers a mentor, entered the race. But the California Democrat ended up co-chairing Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign.