Schiff passes on Dem leadership bid as Pelosi's future stays murky

Adam Schiff has decided not to question a apical House Democratic enactment station successful the adjacent Congress and is alternatively turning his absorption to a imaginable Senate run, according to aggregate radical acquainted with his decision.

The California Democrat has privately weighed his aboriginal successful caller months, gathering with Democratic colleagues to gauge enactment for a imaginable House enactment bid. Schiff had mulled a bid for the caucus’ No. 1 relation — apt to beryllium number leader, arsenic Republicans are conscionable 1 spot distant from flipping the House aft past Tuesday’s predetermination — though helium had not officially jumped into the race.

One of the party’s apical fundraisers, Schiff honed his marque arsenic an anti-Donald Trump crusader arsenic Intelligence Committee seat and a manager of the erstwhile president’s archetypal impeachment. Now he’s alternatively looking toward a Senate run successful 2024, with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) expected to not question different term. One imaginable wrinkle for Schiff there: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has committed to naming a Black pistillate to Feinstein’s Senate spot if she chooses to discontinue earlier her word is over.

Privately, respective Democrats acknowledged it was improbable Schiff could marque up crushed to endanger the existent frontrunner for the caucus’ apical post, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). While Jeffries has steadily built up support, a immense question continues to bent implicit him — and the full caucus: Whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi volition determine to measurement down arsenic enactment person aft 20 years.

Pelosi is wide expected to denote her determination this week, arsenic soon arsenic power of the House is officially called for Republicans.

Schiff’s aboriginal successful the House volition look antithetic successful astatine slightest 1 large mode adjacent year: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has vowed to artifact him from serving arsenic the quality panel’s apical Democrat. Schiff has faced withering GOP disapproval for his handling of the probe into Russian interference successful the 2016 election.