US Senate Hopeful Katie Porter Heading to Fresno

Katie Porter will campaign in Fresno this Saturday.

The Irvine Democrat is a member of the House of Representatives and one of three main Democrats running for U.S. Senate.

Porter and fellow House members Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, and Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, want to succeed Dianne Feinstein — who announced she is not running for re-election in 2024.

Schiff has campaigned in Fresno several times, and Lee at least once.

Porter is best known for her stirring speeches railing against corporate greed. She has also faced scrutiny for receiving subsidized housing from UC Irvine, where she once taught, even though she is not a full-time employee anymore.

The event starts at 11 a.m. at a yet-to-be-revealed location.

In a Berkeley IGS poll released last week, Schiff led with 20% support among likely voters. Porter had 17% and Lee polled at 7%. Among Republicans, James Bradley was at 10% and Eric Early received 7%.

One in three respondents to the poll said they had yet to make up their minds about which candidate to support.

Who Gave to Bonta During Fresno Fundraiser?

Attorney General Rob Bonta visited Fresno on Aug. 29 for a fundraiser. Although officially raising money for his 2026 attorney general race, he is contemplating running for governor.

“I was grateful for the support that was shown to me, and I’m pleased to be able to have support up and down the state, including in the Central Valley, to be able to get out my message of being the people’s attorney and supporting Californians as they fight the fights that they have and so they can stand by their side,” Bonta said when he returned again to Fresno on Tuesday.

Bonta only reported one contribution from that evening — $5,000 from Madera developer Peter Stravinski.

At this point in the campaign, statewide candidates have to report contributions of $5,000 or more within 10 days.

City of Clovis Buys Courthouse

The Clovis City Council voted to purchase the abandoned courthouse already part of the City Hall campus.

The courthouse, surrounded by other city buildings such as administration and council chambers, is owned by the state but hasn’t been used since 2012.

The city council voted 5-0 at its Monday meeting to purchase the building for $450,000. The city has no specific use planned, but said in a staff report “many City Departments are struggling with a shortage of office space.”

Herrera Wins Liberal Endorsement

Bryce Herrera

Bryce Herrera, a staffer for Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez, plans to run in a crowded Board of Supervisors race. He won the endorsement from the Central Valley Progressive PAC.

The 26-year-old Democrat plans to run in District 2, covering much of north Fresno and part of Clovis. He has not officially filed yet. He would run against incumbent Steve Brandau, Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld, and elected Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos.

Brandau and Bredefeld are well-known conservative Republicans; Dictos is no party preference.

The progressive PAC also made a dual endorsement for the Board of Supervisors, District 3 (south Fresno and surrounding communities) — Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias; and Fresno music teacher E.J. Hinojosa.

Incumbent Sal Quintero and Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez are also running in that race.

The primary is March 5, 2024. If no one wins a majority, the top two advance to the November 2024 primary.