Former Senator Boxer gives endorsement to Representative Schiff in Senate campaign

California’s former Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer is endorsing Rep. Adam Schiff in the race for the Senate seat held by the late Dianne Feinstein, praising him as a “pragmatic progressive who gets things done.”

First reported by the Palm Springs Tribune on Thursday, Boxer — who had previously said she’d stay neutral — said recent events in the Senate race changed her mind.

“I had remained neutral up to now because of my warm friendship with Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee,” she told the news outlet. “But I told all three Democrats that if I saw Democrat on Democrat attacks, I would reconsider an endorsement and I have. 

“The recent unwarranted pointed attacks on Adam by [California Democrat Rep.] Katie Porter have led me to carry out my promise,” she continued. “And I hope that Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee make it to the general election.”

Boxer also referred to an attack by Porter during a debate in which she accused Schiff of taking “dirty money.”

“Adam is playing by the rules of the game,” Boxer asserted. “Katie Porter, if she doesn’t take PAC money, that’s fine. But don’t go after a fellow Democrat after you’ve taken his money in the past for your House race and say he’s taking dirty money.”

The Hill reported Boxer was also irked by a recent event in which Schiff’s campaign released a political ad attacking GOP candidate and former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey — a move Porter saw as an an effort to raise Garvey’s profile in hopes Schiff would then face and easily beat him in November.

“Adam Schiff knows he will lose to me in November,” Porter posted on social media, The Hill reported. “That’s what this brazenly cynical ad is about—furthering his own political career, boxing out qualified Democratic women candidates, and boosting a Republican candidate to do it. We need honest leadership, not political games.”

Boxer countered that Schiff has been a strong ally to women in politics.

“And now saying that he’s against women when Adam Schiff has been, what we call as women in politics, Sir Galahad,” she said, referring to the the Arthurian legend famed for his purity.

“That’s why Nancy Pelosi endorsed him. He’s a great guy and he’s been side by side with us every step of the way. So yes, this has pushed me over the line.”

Boxer served in the Senate from 1993 to 2017.