That’s because of the stupid “incumbent” thing. Voters are so afraid they’ll elect a bigger crook than the politician that is already in office.
I certainly hope Newsom appoints Barbara Lee to the seat over Adam Schiff. You folks can scoff at the idea but Schiff having a higher profile would be nerve wracking on a much higher scale. The good news is that the republican voter could take him out in ‘24 by voting for the lesser of 2 evils. That lesser evil would be another democrat, most likely Lee. Barbara Lee is 76 years old, good for one term not 2-3 like Schiff.
Hindsight is 20-20. Say what you want but Barbara Lee’s lone vote against the Iraq war is a Profile in Courage.