March primary election (part 1): the California Senate ballot

My March 4 primary ballot has turned up and I'll be casting it in the next day or two.

Most significant contest on the statewide primary ballot is for the U.S. Senate. It comes in two parts,

1) to fill the seat left vacant by Diane Feinstein's passing until January 3, 2025 and
2) to fill the next six year Senate term which begins on that day.

I see no reason to vote for different people for the two parts of this ballot. Others may differ. These are not even the same list of aspirants!

Three excellent Democrats are running (and a bunch of also-rans). The top two in this primary will run against each other again in the November election. How's that for confusing?

Republican baseball player Steve Garvey is also running; his job is to be a spoiler as no Republican can win in November. But he can keep the race from consisting of two Dems if he gets enough votes.

The Democratic choices are:

1) Congresswoman Barbara Lee who, in matters of war and peace and justice I can thank for "speaking for me" for decades when the rest of Congress couldn't see a moral, responsible way forward.

2) Congressman Adam Schiff who led Trump's first impeachment over his Ukraine arm-twisting and who also served honorably on the January 6 Committee.

3) and Congresswoman Katie Porter, she of the brilliant home economics lessons using her white board to teach testifying billionaires and constituents alike.

I find this a hard choice. Any of these would be an upgrade from Feinstein's last years. Any of them would represent our state well. By a smidgen, I come down for Katie Porter. I don't want to lose her intelligence and her ability to communicate from a perch in Washington.

But I am not going to get upset if the winner in November is one of the other two. What political riches California has produced! Remember that when you feel sick of politicians.