DRIVING THE DAY: New polling released last night from the Public Policy Institute of California shows Rep. Katie Porter with a slight edge over Rep. Adam Schiff in the race to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Porter clocked in with 19 percent, followed by Schiff at 16 percent. Bay Area Rep. Barbara Lee broke double digits, at 13 percent. (The poll was taken June 7 to 29 — around the time Schiff was fighting off a GOP censure and making beaucoup bucks on it). PPIC’s new survey also presents a mixed bag for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s environmental endeavors. More on that below… THE BUZZ — SPOILS OF WAR: To the victor and his allies go the spoils. To the loser and his allies comes, well, a whole lot of uncertainty. The bruising speakership fight in the Assembly is over, with Speaker Robert Rivas taking the helm from Anthony Rendon. But the fallout from that major power shift is just beginning to ripple through the chamber. What’s next for Rendon’s lieutenants and key allies? Insiders are watching for any smoke signals about which committee chairs could be shuffled next. Several of Rendon’s closest supporters had already left the Assembly before Rivas ascended. Rivas’ spokesperson, Nick Miller, signaled no major changes are likely until later this year: “The speaker is focused on being a strong steward for the bills he’s inherited.” Nevertheless, here’s a breakdown of the key committee chair posts to watch as the musical chairs play out. Phil Ting, Budget: There’s perhaps no more powerful Rendon lieutenant with such a murky future. Ting is termed out in 2024, and hasn’t announced whether he plans to run for another office (He has been mum on a progressive effort to draft him to challenge San Francisco Mayor London Breed). It’s likely Rivas will elevate an ally to chair Budget, one of the most powerful committees. But the new speaker went out of his way to praise Ting when Newsom signed the budget. The speaker said he and Ting talked regularly during the final stages of budget negotiations (before Rendon abdicated on June 30). Ting declined to dish on his plans. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Public Safety: Likely the most endangered chair. Rumors have been swirling about which Rivas ally could replace Jones-Sawyer at Public Safety. He’s been under intense scrutiny after he delayed several fentanyl bills this year and again this week after the committee rejected a bill that would define human trafficking of a minor as a serious felony and a three-strikes offense (more on that below). The assemblyman argues that a return to tough on crime policies won’t make Californians safer. Jones-Sawyer is running for the Los Angeles City Council in 2024, when he’s termed out of the Legislature. Chris Holden, Appropriations: The ability to control the purse strings on fiscal bills makes Appropriations one of the most coveted gigs. So, it’s little surprise that Holden’s days wielding the gavel may be numbered. Several close Rivas allies, including Jim Wood and Buffy Wicks, are considered contenders for the post. Evan Low, once seen as the likely next Appropriations chair, is probably out of the mix after he tried to buck Rivas in the 11th hour of the speakership fight. The assemblyman, also termed out in 2024, is running for Los Angeles County supervisor. Kevin McCarty, Budget Subcommittee #2: McCarty was one of the former speaker’s top allies and surrogates during the leadership battle. Last fall, it was McCarty, not Rendon, who stood alongside Rivas after the caucus approved a transition plan to make him speaker. McCarty has exerted significant influence over the budget as chair of the subcommittee that oversees education spending. The assemblyman isn’t termed out until 2026. But he has plenty to keep him distracted next year: McCarty is running for Sacramento mayor, which, in turn, creates a wide-open race for his Assembly seat. Brian Maienschein, Judiciary: Maienschein and Rendon were once rivals — the former speaker tried, unsuccessfully, to flip his San Diego seat blue. But an alliance was forged in 2019, when Rendon helped convince Maienschein to ditch the GOP and join the Democratic caucus — a caucus that, under Rendon, has spent heavily to defend the seat. Maienschein, who’s termed out in 2024, told Playbook he plans to keep the gavel for his final year: “I am pleased with the work we have accomplished… and look forward to serving as chair again in 2024.” Laura Friedman, Transportation: Friedman was another one of Rendon’s most powerful deputies, using the Transportation post to help negotiate major budget deals over transit funding and high-speed rail. She’s not termed out until 2028, but she’s launched a campaign for Congress in CA-30, the seat held by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (now running for Senate). HAPPY THURSDAY. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Bon voyage to all the legislators and dedicated staffers jetting off today for summer recess. Let us know if you’re going somewhere interesting over the break — especially if it's policy-related or White-Lotus-level fancy. EXPANSION NEWS: We’re thrilled to announce two big moves: Julia Marsh, who has led our New York City coverage, is moving West to head up our California operation as editorial director for California. And Debra Kahn, POLITICO’s deputy sustainability editor, will become California policy editor with a particular focus on our new California Climate newsletter launching next month. Read much more in the full announcement here. PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — Are YOU in the Assembly? Do you know of someone getting a new committee appointment? Get in touch! We want all your hot tips, photos and story ideas. Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
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