The main contenders to become California鈥檚 new U.S. senator want voters to see them in a certain light:
Rep. Adam Schiff as a of ; Rep. Katie Porter as an ; Rep. Barbara Lee as a ; Eric Early as a champion for the 鈥溾�� and Steve Garvey as a commonsense .
But their ads, slogans and speeches offer only a glimpse into who they are, or what they have done 鈥� or plan to do 鈥� to tackle some of Californians鈥� most pressing concerns. All three Democrats have years of voting records while serving in Congress.
All but Early are set to on Monday evening. Ahead of the event, CalMatters sent each campaign a questionnaire and analyzed their records and stances on issues such as border, immigration, criminal justice, foreign policy, economy, labor and housing.
Here鈥檚 a detailed look at where they stand on those issues 鈥� and how they differ from each other:
Border and immigration
The three Democrats share a similar track record on immigration and border security issues.
They all voted against Republican proposals to , and condemn the use of to shelter migrants. They have all supported 鈥� or even co-sponsored 鈥� bills to provide a for undocumented immigrants and , establish on border security activities and to restrict undocumented immigrant entries.
All support expanding unemployment insurance benefits to undocumented immigrants seeking work.
At a , all three Democrats criticized President Joe Biden鈥檚 policy that from seeking asylum if they crossed the border illegally. Porter said the policy was 鈥渄ishonoring this nation鈥檚 history and our future.鈥� Schiff and Lee both called it 鈥渨rong.鈥�
Biden 鈥� noting that previous congressional actions 鈥� decided to in October, shocking some Democrats. The decision drew instant criticism from Lee, who urged White House to reverse course in a .
Lee, Schiff and Porter all agreed a generic border wall is ineffective in response to CalMatters鈥� questionnaire this month. Schiff and Porter both advocated for increased use of at the border.
Porter, however, said some 鈥渟ite-specific鈥� barriers do work, 鈥渇or example, in dangerous areas where the lives of migrants and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel are at risk when there are unauthorized crossings and search and rescue missions.鈥�
Of the three Democrats, Lee appears to be the most staunch critic of allocating more funds to federal border patrol agencies.
In 2019, Lee voted against at the southern border, while Schiff and Porter voted in favor. The package 鈥� backed by 鈥� passed the House without the stronger protections in migrant facilities that had supported.
Lee called for a 50% budget cut for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in statements to CalMatters. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security, she said, would be better spent on 鈥渕eaningful immigration reform.鈥�
鈥淚CE is rotten to the core,鈥� Lee said in response to the CalMatters questionnaire. She is the only Senate candidate to have voted against creating the agency in 2002, when Schiff 鈥� then in his first term 鈥� supported it.
Porter told CalMatters she generally does not support additional funding for the agency, but said she wants border patrol employees to 鈥渞eceive pay commensurate with their work鈥� to help 鈥渞ecruit a workforce that can meet the needs of our border communities.鈥�
Schiff said Congress should provide aid to border communities and increase resources and personnel at ports of entry to help handle an influx of asylum seekers.
The top two Republicans 鈥� Garvey and Early 鈥� both support the border wall, additional funding for border patrol agents and tightened restrictions on border entries. Both said the nation should prioritize immigration applications from people legally present in the United States and both oppose offering undocumented immigrants unemployment benefits.
Early argued he supports a path to citizenship for 鈥渋llegal immigrants who have enlisted in and participated honorably in our military.鈥� Currently, non-citizens can only join the military if they are legal permanent residents, but a Democrats-backed bill in Congress would to serve in the military.
Garvey last month and said he wants to complete the wall.
Crime and guns
On this topic, the Republican and Democratic candidates seem to share some common ground.
They have all stressed the need to invest in mental health services as well as policing to address crime, but the devil鈥檚 in the details.
The three Democrats want more funding to reform policing methods. They all voted for for police, more federal dollars for initiatives and after George Floyd鈥檚 death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.
Garvey and Early鈥檚 campaigns called for more funding for police departments and law enforcement officers, as well as the need to secure the southern border.
All three Democrats support boosting funding for mental health treatment programs. Lee 鈥� arguing poverty is the root cause of crime 鈥� believes raising the minimum wage, expanding access to healthcare and legalizing marijuana will address the 鈥渟tructural problems鈥� that lead to criminal acts, her campaign says.
Porter鈥檚 campaign championed her 鈥� a 2022 bill to give grants to governments to recruit and train mental health professionals to respond to emergency calls. Schiff and Lee both voted for the measure.
Garvey鈥檚 campaign said he also supports funding to treat mental health problems and drug addiction, arguing they often contribute to gun violence and homelessness. Early, via a campaign spokesperson, advocated for a 鈥渞ebuild鈥� of the nation鈥檚 mental health system 鈥渢hat allows for the severely mentally ill to be permanently housed and cared for,鈥� arguing that services were 鈥渄ecimated鈥� in the 1960s 鈥� when and placed in community-based care centers amid the civil rights movement.
On gun policies, Garvey supports 鈥渃ommon-sense measures鈥� such as pre-sale background checks and an assault weapon ban 鈥� something mainly supported by Democrats, according to his campaign. 鈥淲e can keep guns out of the hands of criminals while also protecting Second Amendment rights,鈥� his campaign said in a response to CalMatters鈥� questions.
The candidates are otherwise split along party lines. For example, all three Democrats oppose the federal death penalty, while Republicans argue the opposite.
But there are nuanced differences, especially among Democrats. They all voted against legislation to permanently raise fentanyl-related drugs to the highest class of illegal substances 鈥� a GOP-led bill to pass. Lee, however, was the only candidate to even temporarily doing so.
Schiff 鈥� a former prosecutor in Los Angeles 鈥� has the most controversial track record on criminal justice issues due to his .
Schiff was among 48 Democrats to support the in 2017 to apply the federal death penalty to cop killers 鈥� something Early supports. Schiff has since the sentence. In his campaign response to CalMatters, Schiff credited his change of heart to 鈥渢echnological advancements鈥� that revealed 鈥渄eep flaws鈥� with the death penalty and a 鈥渄isproportionate application鈥� of the sentence on people of color.
As a state senator, Schiff authored legislation to crack down on juveniles, including a bill to create year-long 鈥渂oot camps鈥� for teenagers at school and another to as adults if they commit murder or rape.
In Congress, he introduced legislation in to to a program to place more cops in communities, supported language to exclude asylum seekers and immigrants from and voted for the Protect and Serve Act in 2018 to impose stricter penalties on assaulting law enforcement officers, which most Democrats voted for. Lee voted against both measures.
Schiff鈥檚 record irked criminal justice activists, who in a urged Gov. Gavin Newsom not to appoint Schiff as the next state attorney general. He has since softened some of his positions on criminal justice. In February 2023, he said his viewpoint had changed since the 1990s. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned that some of the policies of the 90s didn鈥檛 work,鈥� he told .
Foreign policy and defense
The issue of a ceasefire in the Gaza war highlights a key split among the three Democratic hopefuls.
A day after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Lee from the stage of a Senate candidate debate 鈥� one of the first members of Congress to do so. Schiff called for 鈥渦nequivocal support鈥� for Israel, while Porter cautioned against Islamophobia and mourned the lives lost on both sides.
For months afterward, as the casualty numbers rose in Gaza, Schiff and Porter both called for a 鈥渉umanitarian pause鈥� 鈥� aligning with the Biden administration鈥檚 policy. But as grew, Porter shifted her stance in a Dec. 18 statement, calling for a 鈥溾�� that 鈥渂rings remaining hostages home, secures Israel鈥檚 safety, removes Hamas from operational control of Gaza, and invests in creating a better economic and political architecture for Palestinians in Gaza.鈥�
When asked to explain why she shifted her stance, Porter鈥檚 campaign pointed to her Dec. 18 statement, in which she seemed to suggest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 rejection of Palestinian governance of Gaza was the reason.
鈥淗is remarks and actions necessitate tough conversations with our ally Israel about its long-term strategy and among U.S. policymakers about our approach in the Middle East,鈥� she said in the statement.
Schiff, however, has stood by his initial position, arguing that a permanent ceasefire would 鈥減erpetuate Hamas terrorist control of Gaza,鈥� according to his campaign.
All three Democrats signed on as co-sponsors of a largely symbolic affirming Israel鈥檚 right to defend itself. But Lee was the only candidate to vote against the 鈥� a bipartisan bill that would sanction Hamas, its affiliates and governments providing aid to the group.
鈥淭he bill was opposed by major humanitarian organizations because it is overly broad and will hurt a lot of innocent Palestinians by making it harder if not impossible to receive humanitarian assistance,鈥� Lee spokesperson Sean Ryan told CalMatters in an email.
Decades before Gaza, Lee shocked the world by being the lone vote against the Afghanistan war after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a decision that got her death threats then but now hailed as a by her supporters.
Lee is still somewhat of a unicorn on foreign policy compared to her opponents.
In 2002, Lee voted against authorizing the , while Schiff voted in favor. Lee has since sponsored a resolution to repeal the authorization most years; it wasn鈥檛 until 2021 that the , with Schiff and Porter both voting in favor.
Lee was also the to support a in March 2023 鈥� a measure most Democrats, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, voted against. Critics of the bill said a removal could give Islamic State terrorists time to reorganize, the reported.
Additionally, Lee as the most consistent in calling for cutting the nation鈥檚 鈥渂loated鈥� defense budget. She has voted against authorizing defense and when and voted in favor, voting records show.
Schiff鈥檚 campaign said he wants to reduce the Pentagon鈥檚 budget by 10% and supports eliminating weapons systems the administration does not need or want. 鈥淭here is far too much waste in the defense budget that must be eliminated,鈥� his campaign said.
Porter鈥檚 campaign said the funding level needs to be indexed to national security threats and there needs to be more oversight. 鈥淚鈥檒l never rubber stamp spending, but I believe investing in our servicemembers and their well-being is paramount,鈥� the campaign said.
Both Republicans support increasing the defense budget. Neither Garvey nor Early supported a call for a ceasefire. They both argued Israel must have the ability to fight Hamas until it is destroyed, their campaigns said.
Economy and labor
Although far lower than during the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation remains high, jumping from 3.1% to 3.4% in December. Experts attribute it to the rising cost of housing, and project it鈥檚 unlikely to last given a housing market cool-down, .
Republican candidates blame the Biden administration. Garvey attributed it to 鈥渆xcessive government spending鈥� while Early criticized the reduction of domestic energy production 鈥� a that conflicts with U.S. oil production in October.
Democrats slam corporations instead. Porter 鈥� a self-proclaimed warrior taking on Wall Street interests 鈥� argued inflation worsened because businesses are overcharging customers, pointing to for big corporations. Similarly, Lee blamed corporate greed. Apart from corporate profit, Schiff pointed to the supply chain interruption during the pandemic and a lack of housing as contributing factors.
Among the three Democrats, Schiff 鈥� a past member of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition 鈥� has historically been the most skeptical of federal spending. In 2005, he demanded a in the budget.
Schiff is the only Senate candidate to vote in favor of last year to avoid a default. Lee and Porter 鈥� along with 38 other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus 鈥� voted against it. Lee said she voted to stand up against 鈥渆xtreme MAGA Republicans holding our economy hostage,鈥� and Porter 鈥� who has argued the 鈥� criticized the measure for including to the oil and gas industry, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Schiff, who the Congressional Progressive Caucus last year but withdrew, voted multiple times against the 鈥溾�� 鈥� which contains all the caucus鈥� priorities and which has served as a purity test. Lee 鈥� the only other candidate in Congress at the time 鈥� voted in favor.
Lee is also the only candidate to sponsor the , a measure increasing taxes on corporate CEOs. Lee and Porter are both sponsoring the Oligarch Act, another measure aimed to tax the rich, . Schiff has, however, expressed support for made under the Trump administration.
All three Democrats have gained union endorsements, although Schiff has won the most from statewide unions. All the Democrats support the to override all state right-to-work laws and strengthen union protections. Garvey and Early both said that the decision belongs to states, not the federal government, according to their campaigns.
The five candidates also split along party lines on whether striking workers should be eligible for unemployment benefits 鈥� a controversial bill last year. All three Democrats said those workers deserve the benefits. Early outright said no, while Garvey鈥檚 campaign told CalMatters that governments should stay out of disputes between unions and businesses.
All three Democrats believe the federal minimum wage 鈥� $7.25 per hour 鈥� should increase.
Lee called for a during a forum last year, noting that鈥檚 the living wage one working adult with two children would have to make, according to an estimate.
Porter鈥檚 campaign said she supports a $20 federal minimum wage and $25 for California, indexed to inflation. Schiff鈥檚 campaign said he supports a $20 federal minimum wage indexed to inflation, with a boost to $25 for health care workers.
Early believes the federal rate does not need to change and that an increase would worsen inflation, according to his campaign.
Garvey, on the other hand, did not give a specific number. 鈥淓ach state and its voters have the ability to raise their minimum wage, as California has multiple times, beyond the federal minimum wage,鈥� his campaign said.
Homelessness and housing
On California鈥檚 , Republican candidates say mental health problems are the main culprit 鈥� not the lack of affordable housing.
Early, in his campaign鈥檚 response to CalMatters鈥� questions, said the cause of the state鈥檚 homelessness is 鈥渟evere mental illness鈥� and 鈥渟oft-on-crime鈥� policies, referring to Proposition 47 鈥� that reduced penalties for certain thefts and drug offenses.
鈥淭he biggest factor is manifestly not insufficient low-income housing,鈥� the campaign鈥檚 statement read.
Garvey鈥檚 campaign said the biggest driving factors of the problem are 鈥渄rug and alcohol addiction鈥� and 鈥渕ental health issues.鈥� During a Wednesday visit to a Sacramento homeless encampment, into how taxpayer dollars are spent to battle the homelessness crisis.
But the Democratic candidates all argued a lack of affordable housing is driving the crisis.
The homelessness problem is a 鈥渄irect result鈥� of over the past decades, Porter argues on her website. Her campaign said she supports a 鈥渕ajor investment鈥� in housing, including a fully-funded federal program and an expansion of the national Low Income Housing Tax Credit.
Lee鈥檚 campaign said homelessness is a housing issue 鈥渁t its core.鈥� Like Porter, she also called for a fully-funded Section 8 program and a 鈥� one that the Biden administration has pushed for. She believes expanding health care access, offering free college and raising the minimum wage would help ease homelessness in the state, her campaign said. She also touted legislation she introduced to help renters, such as the , which would allow federal programs to cover security deposit and moving expenses for those using the .
Similarly, Schiff鈥檚 campaign said he also supports expanding Section 8 vouchers and providing wraparound services. Additionally, his campaign stressed the importance of easing regulations and offering tax incentives to encourage the build-out of affordable housing 鈥� something Garvey and Early also support.
On Schiff鈥檚 campaign website, he touted legislation he introduced and supported to fight homelessness, including the , which would offer tax incentives for homeless shelters.
Asked if they support more federal funding to combat the crisis, only Early鈥檚 campaign said no. Garvey鈥檚 campaign said funding for housing should prioritize projects in 鈥渓ow-income areas, and near job and transit centers.鈥�
and have both touted their success securing earmarked funds for housing and homelessness. Porter, however, is a , arguing the funding goes to lawmakers鈥� 鈥減et projects鈥� and requests should be rejected. She has instead, urging her colleagues to approve grants to homelessness assistance programs.
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