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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - While Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican former Dodger Steve Garvey prepare for a November runoff election after topping a crowded field of candidates looking to claim the U.S. Senate seat previously held by the late Dianne Feinstein, Katie Porter is catching flack Thursday for saying the system to select candidates is rigged.
Porter, a member of Congress representing Irvine who finished third in the primary election, posted on social media Wednesday that donors supporting Schiff used their money to rig the election.
"Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign and voted to shake up the status quo in Washington. Because of you, we had the establishment running scared -- withstanding 3 to 1 in TV spending and an onslaught of billionaires spending millions to rig this election," Porter said in a post after the race was called.
According to still-unofficial results from Tuesday's primary election, Schiff, D-Burbank, led the way among the more than two dozen candidates seeking the seat, earning 33.2% of the vote. Garvey was only about 30,000 votes behind, earning 32.4% of the tally.
Porter, D-Irvine, was a distant third at 13.8%, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, placed fourth at just 7.4%.
Porter issued a statement Thursday to address criticism for saying the primary election was rigged.
"`Rigged' means manipulated by dishonest means," Porter said in a statement.
"That is dishonest means to manipulate the outcome. I said `rigged by billionaires' and our politics are -- in fact -- manipulated by big dark money. Defending democracy means calling that out," Porter said.
She made it clear she did not claim the vote count or the election process was rigged. Rather the donors funding candidates are using their money in inappropriate ways. She said the state election process is "beyond reproach."
Many pundits were anticipating a Schiff-Garvey runoff, with most believing it could result in an easy Schiff victory in heavily Democratic California as they fight for a full six-year term in the Senate.
Schiff and Garvey will actually appear twice on the November ballot, with both also seeking to fill out the remainder of Feinstein's term, which ends in January.
Schiff claimed victory at a Hollywood rally Tuesday night, but his speech was interrupted by protesters who loudly chanted "Cease fire now" and "Free Palestine." While security officials dragged some protesters out of the room, seemingly dozens of others remained, persistently chanting and forcing Schiff to try to speak over the din.
He appeared to eventually cut his remarks short due to the disruption, but he was able to thank supporters and his family.
"It looks like we're going to the general, ladies and gentlemen," Schiff said. "So a little over a year ago we kicked off this campaign and I won't say it wasn't without its bumps along the way. I seem to recall, although it's a little hazy, within hours of our announcement a certain Kevin McCarthy kicked me off the Intelligence Committee. ... And then at the urging and badgering of Donald Trump, the Republicans censured me for holding him accountable. ... And then Trump would attack me after rally after rally.
"... But you had my back every step of the way, every step of the way. You helped us build the biggest grassroots campaign for Senate in California history and I cannot thank you enough."
Things were notably calmer in Palm Desert, where Garvey hailed his advance to the November runoff. He compared the election results to "what it's like to hit a walk-off home run."
"Your vote was your shared belief with me that California is no longer the heartbeat of America --- but now just a murmur," Garvey said. "That we have challenges to face up to --- like closing the border. And responsibilities to live up to ---like helping the homeless off the streets with a pathway back to their dignity. And that if we do those things and more -- - that our best days will be ahead of us. With California once again being the heartbeat of America. As we celebrate tonight --- I want you to know that we haven't come this far, to only go this far.
"When I stepped on the field for the Dodgers and Padres, I didn't play for Democrats, Republicans or Independents --- I played for all the fans. And now I'm running for all of the people."
Porter conceded defeat during a gathering with supporters in Long Beach, saying she remains convinced that voters want to see change in Washington.
"You want leaders who demand better from both parties, leaders who want progress not partisanship, officials whose bottom line is people, not profits," she said. "That is why we were able to turn heads in this campaign and make the people in power listen and run scared. Let's be honest, I think all of us can agree that our government isn't working well for us, for families, for Californians, for workers, for consumers. So many of those in power are too interested in helping other powerful people instead of paying attention to the needs of everyday people. Too many are more interested in being an elected official than in actually doing anything to fix the problems that everyday people face."
Lee issued a statement early Tuesday night thanking her campaign supporters and stressing the issues she was fighting for in the campaign.
"Universal healthcare, climate justice, economic equity, reproductive freedom, peace and security around the world -- these are only ideas if we don't fight for them," Lee said. "They're fights I've dedicated my life to.
"And seeing the passion and enthusiasm on the ground, willing to do the work and come out and join this fight -- I couldn't be prouder to know that progress is happening here in California."
Schiff raised eyebrows during the campaign by running ads that framed the race as a contest between his Democratic credentials and Garvey's record. Those ads helped boost Garvey in the polls. Political analysts said Schiff was intentionally raising Garvey up so can fend off the Democratic candidates and dispatch Garvey in the November election.
"It's pretty clear Schiff is trying to bolster Garvey's credibility as his opponent in the runoff and then Schiff can take the rest of the summer off," Democratic political consultant Garry South told the Los Angeles Times.
Because of Democrats' overwhelming voter registration edge in the state and California's open primary system, analysts have opined that the race for the Senate will effectively be over if Schiff faces Garvey.