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U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California waited until the second week of this month to announce her re-election bid. It appears that many of her fellow Democrats in the House are silent on supporting her.

Currently, the Democratic Party has 39 members from California to the U.S. House of Representations. The Hill contacted the offices of all of these representatives to weigh the level of support for Feinstein. The veteran incumbent is seeking a fifth term in the Senate.

According to the media entity, twelve of the California House Democrats are supporting Feinstein. One is endorsing her challenger, State Senator Kevin de León. A handful said they are neutral while most chose to stay silent on the matter.

On October 9, Feinstein finally decided that she will run for another term. Her announcement erased the lingering speculation that she will retire. In a tweet, the veteran senator said, “I am running for reelection to the Senate. Lots more to do: ending gun violence, combating climate change, access to healthcare. I’m all in!”

Political observers suggest that there a few progressive Democrats in California, who are wondering or clamoring for generational change. Some of them are discouraged with the minority status of their party in both the House and Senate.

So far, Feinstein’s campaign is pleased and confident based on the endorsements they received. However, her campaign believes that this coming primary might be the most challenging.

Feinstein is taking her primary challenger “very seriously”

According to Feinstein’s lead political strategist, Bill Carrick, they are already working hard for her campaign. Their minimum fundraising target is $30 million.

Carrick said Feinstein is taking the primary challenge from de León “very seriously.” He also commented that “it is not yet clear “what kind of candidate he’s going to be.”

Feinstein is a senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence.  Some of the senior California Democrats in the House including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff expressed strong support for Feinstein. Pelosi emphasized that experience is an invaluable asset to their party.

On the other hand, Schiff said, “Senator Feinstein is one of the most thoughtful, substantive and effective leaders in Congress. We need her leadership now more than ever,” in a tweet last month.

There is a “hunger for new leadership” in California

Meanwhile, Feinstein’s critics believe that she is now out of touch. They were referring her recent statement about President Donald Trump. Many of them were disheartened when she encouraged Democrats to “have some patience” with Trump.”

According to de León, Feinstein’s comment about Trump was one of the reasons he decided to run against her.  His campaign spokesman, Roger Salazar commented that California is no longer the same state 25 years ago. He emphasized that there is a “hunger for new leadership” in the state.

Warning against de León on his bid against Feinstein

Cong. John Garamendi of the Third District of California rejected the claims that there is clamor for a new type of leadership within the Democratic Party. He said,

“There is no push in the party [for generational change]. “It’s just some people who use generational change as a way to advance themselves.”

Additionally, Garamendi called Feinstein an “incredible important asset” to the Democratic Party. He strongly believe that the incumbent veteran senator will “crush anybody” in both the primary and general elections.

Furthermore, Garamendi warned de León that his move is a “big mistake” and “will not advance his career. According to him, “He may very well terminate his career.”