Taylor Swift, Katie Porter and the California Senate Race

By Colleen O’Connor

The best mystery writers’ detectives follow one simple rule: Cherchez la femme.

Original French translation: “Look for the woman, by God! Look for the woman”!

And so, too this election year. Look for the women.

Women will determine the outcome. About that, there is little doubt.  A seismic shift has occurred since the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and remove a woman’s right to control her own body.

Twenty-five states plus DC have enacted laws that protect abortion access without Roe v. Wade. 19 states have laws to restrict that right.

Even President Biden, at 37% approval rating, the lowest level of his presidency, is now highlighting a woman’s right to an abortion as his top campaign theme.

Why?  More women vote than men. College educated Republican women side with Democrats on abortion rights.

Polls, politics and then “woman’s night” at the Grammy’s. All nine of the televised awards went to women artists.  Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, SZA and Miley Cyrus took home the night’s major awards.

And they supported one another.

Billie Eilish won song of the year for writing the “Barbie” hit, “What Was I Made For?” then thanked director Greta Gerwig for “making the best movie of the year.”

Lennox called for a ceasefire and “peace for the world,” in reference to the Israel-Hamas conflict and the organization Artists4Ceasefire — an act that recalled Sinead O’Connor’s social activism.

On point, according to new NBC News polling, “fewer than 3 in 10 voters approve of his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.”  Again, mostly women.

And remember the courageous women who defied the odds and bookended Donald Trump by bringing him to Justice.  Stormy Daniels, E. Jean Carroll, Ruby Freeman, etc.

The woman Trump fears most may be Taylor Swift.  Swift currently has 78.7 million followers, dwarfing all other public figures. Yet, she just announces, “Vote, Vote. Vote.”

Which brings us to Katie Porter and the California U.S. Senate race. 22 million registered voters in CA.  More women than men.

What happened to the powerhouse California women?  Not one now in a permanent U.S. Senate seat. Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer ruled for decades alongside Speaker Emeriti, Nancy Pelosi and together delivered phenomenal legislative victories for the state.

As of now, there are 29 candidates on the ballot.  The top two vote-getters proceed to the runoff.

What we have now among the top four contenders?  Steve Garvey, a late entry, designed to stop Porter.  Lee, an early entrant, cannot muster the votes for a second place finish.

That leaves Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. Schiff has the most money.  Porter enough in the bank.

As for issues, Schiff supports the Israeli-Gaza war. Porter has stiffened in her opposition to the war. ( remember 3 in 10 voters reject Biden’s handling of the war issue). Porter’s reason.  Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of Palestinian governance of Gaza.

Hence, the choice between Porter and Schiff.

California without a woman in the Senate for the first time in multiple decades? How has this happened?  Maybe it won’t be.

In any case, Cherchez this woman.  Katie Porter.  Always underestimated.