'Boy Meets World' actor to run for Adam Schiff's seat in Congress

Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool via AP

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has not officially announced that he is running for the U.S. Senate expected to be left vacant by the retirement of Dianne Feinstein. That’s not stopping another Democrat from stepping up and filing paperwork to run for the seat in Congress that Schiff currently holds.

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Boy Meets World actor Ben Savage is running for Congress in the 2024 election. According to press reports, Savage filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on Wednesday. He filed a statement of organization with the FEC, registering as a Democrat candidate for California’s 30th House District.

Shifty Schiff has held that seat in Congress since 2001. His name is one being mentioned for the Senate race if Feinstein retires. Speaker McCarthy made the decision to block Schiff from being on the House Intelligence Committee for his consistent spreading of lies in his work in investigating Trump. So, Schiff may figure he isn’t going to get plum committee assignments like he did when Pelosi was in charge so now’s his time to make a move up to the Senate.

Kudos, by the way, to McCarthy for doing what needs to be done with committee assignments. Besides Schiff’s comeuppance, Eric Swalwell, (D-CA) is blocked from sitting on the House Intelligence Committee. And, McCarthy will also remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Savage is not a political newbie. He ran for the West Hollywood City Council in 2022, unsuccessfully. California’s 30th District encompasses West Hollywood, where Savage lives, Burbank, parts of Pasadena and more.

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He’s apparently had an interest in politics for years because he studied political science at Stanford. In 2003, he interned for then-Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). During a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Savage said he thought the internship would be fun and that Washington, D.C. is all about connections. He was asked if he was thinking about a career in politics. He said, “Acting and politics are almost too similar. I don’t know… You have to be a very specific breed to do that.” It reminds me of that saying that Washington is Hollywood for ugly people. Heh. That is often said during the time of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, a.k.a. Nerd Prom.

We’ll see how far Savage gets in this race. He is one of seven candidates running for the seat in 2024. Only one is a Republican. His team has not confirmed or denied his candidacy.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Savage’s team did not confirm or deny the run, stating “He is focused on his upcoming wedding. Ben is still making decisions and always looking for opportunities to give back and serve the community.”

By all indications so far, the primary race for the Senate seat held by Feinstein is going to be one to watch. There are lots of names being floated of possible candidates, with the potential to become a free-for-all. Rep. Katie Porter has formally launched her campaign for the Senate. Feinstein has not officially announced her retirement but she is 89 years old and has held the seat since 1992. She looks frail and there have been questions about her health. Porter says it’s time for a “warrior” in that seat.

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“California needs a warrior in the Senate — to stand up to special interests, fight the dangerous imbalance in our economy, and hold so-called leaders like Mitch McConnell accountable for rigging our democracy,” two-term Rep. Katie Porter said when announcing her candidacy.

Rep. Barbara Lee, who is 76 years old, is reported to have told colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus she will also run. Rep. Ro Khanna is also eyeing the seat. All of these Democrats, including Schiff, are staunch progressives. The knock against Feinstein is that she too often works with Republicans in the Senate and isn’t strident enough for the far-left in the Democrat Party.

“Grassroots Democrats have been very unhappy with Feinstein for years,” a California House Democrat said. “It’s not fair per se, but California is one of the most liberal states in the nation. As a politician, you have to pay attention to your base.”

The liberal purity of Mrs. Feinstein’s would-be successors is not necessarily a benefit to being elected, even in deep-blue California. That’s because of the state’s size and demographic diversity.

“The more people that get into the race, the more the electorate gets sliced up,” said Mike Madrid, a political strategist who has advised both Democrats and Republicans in California. “If enough people are in the race, you can make it past the primary by a small plurality, but that also makes it more attractive for other candidates to jump in.”

With four liberals, that could make the race more attractive for a moderate Democrat. Geography and race also could play a factor.

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Lee and Khanna represent districts in northern California, while Schiff and Lee represent southern California. There are no Hispanic candidates yet.

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