Carla Marinucci, a former reporter who knows as much about California politics as anyone, had lunch on Saturday with Willie Brown.

Former San Francisco Mayor and Assembly Speaker Brown is another shrewd “old head” with his finger on the pulse of state politics.

“Interesting lunch today w Willie Brown, who predicts the real power candidate in 2024 CA Senate race will be . . . (Arnold) Schwarzenegger,” Marinucci tweeted. ” ‘It would be like the recall all over’ — and he says Arnold could win handily. Asked if he’s talked to his buddy on this, Willie smiled — no comment.”

Interesting lunch today w Willie Brown, who predicts the real power candidate in 2024 CA Senate race will be..@Schwarzenegger. ‘It would be like the recall all over’ — and he says Arnold could win handily. Asked if he’s talked to his buddy on this, Willie smiled — no comment.

— Carla ‘Bluechecked’ Marinucci (@cmarinucci) August 5, 2023

The Republican Party would love it if Schwarzenegger entered the race to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, who is in failing health and has said she won’t run for re-election in 20204.

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Mark Baldassare, survey director at the Public Policy Institute of California, offered this analysis of the July PPIC Poll results on the race:

“So far, the race to replace Senator Dianne Feinstein is wide open. Three Democratic members of Congress are polling in the teens among likely voters — Katie Porter (19%), Adam Schiff (16%), and Barbara Lee (13%). Six Republican candidates are each receiving less than 10% of the vote.”

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Absent Schwarzenegger’s entry, it’s nearly a given that Democrats would finish 1-2 in the primary and square off in the November general election.

However, if Schwarzenegger decides to return to politics, he’d have an excellent shot at being the top vote-getter in the primary and going head-to-head with a Democrat in November.

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Schwarzenegger: I’d Run for President If I Were Eligible

Earlier this summer, the former California governor told CNN’s Chris Wallace that he would run for president in 2024, and win — if he was eligible.

“Yes, of course,” Schwarzenegger said when asked whether he would run if the Constitution didn’t require the president be a natural-born U.S. citizen.

“I mean, think about it right now,” the Austrian-born actor/politician said. “I mean, who is there that is really a person that can bring everyone together … because it’s now a question about who do you vote against, rather than who do you vote for.

“Look, it’s a no-brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election.”