Job Posting:

U.S. Senate

Job Description

Starting Salary: $174,000

Potential applicants for this post typically exhibit a passion for voting on federal legislation, confirming or rejecting the president’s job appointees, and occasionally giving really, really, long speeches. Despite California’s huge population, H.R. regulations (i.e. the U.S. Constitution) limit us to hiring just one U.S. Senator at this time (yes, the same as Delaware) The successful applicant will represent the state in Washington D.C. for six years alongside the state’s new hire, Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris.

About the U.S. Senate: Sometimes called the “cooling saucer of American Democracy,” this is where federal legislation gets its most thorough once-over. Senate procedures give individual senators plenty of opportunity to grind the legislative process to a halt and most meaningful bills will require the support of 60 of your 100 colleagues. In other words, the Senate puts the “deliberative” in “world’s greatest deliberative body.”

Qualifications

As a U.S. Senator, you will be expected to:

  • Attend floor sessions and vote on legislation
  • Occasionally write legislation yourself—though your ability to do so will depend on who you are and which committees you sit on
  • Approve or reject presidential appointees for positions in the cabinet, the judiciary, and the foreign service
  • Approve or reject treaties
  • Represent the interests of some 20 million people, while your esteemed colleagues from Wyoming and Vermont represent one-hundredth that amount

Note to all applicants not named Dianne Feinstein: while job experience is not a formal requirement for this position, please know that you will be competing for the position with the second longest serving senator in state history.

Hiring Update

Veteran Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein is once again seeking to renew her position as U.S. Senator for another six years. That news, which Feinstein waited to announce until last October, came as a disappointment to many would-be applicants, who had hoped for an open seat after 26 years.

Still, Feinstein’s incumbent’s advantage hasn’t discouraged Democratic state Sen. Kevin de León of Los Angeles, her challenger in the November election, from mounting a campaign to replace her. Fresh from his stint as the most powerful lawmaker in the California Senate, de León says California could use new, more progressive representation in Washington D.C. But as one of the most well-known political names in California, Feinstein’s sits at the top for now.

Data

How the U.S. Senate candidates are polling

Campaign contributions to top candidates

How concerned are Californians about the threat of mass shootings?

Going Deeper

Where Sen. Dianne Feinstein and state Sen. Kevin de Leon stand on the issues

State Sen. Kevin de Leon and Sen. Dianne Feinstein. (Associated Press)

Latest

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Feinstein and De León on priorities, diversity and what they'd like to ask each other

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Feinstein and de León debate in lopsided forum

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein seeks fifth term: How her Washington virtues became California vulnerabilities

Profile

A disrupter from day one: How Kevin de León became the Democrat trying to topple Dianne Feinstein

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Dianne Feinstein’s campaign debate dodge may be about to end

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De León isn’t backing off criticism of how Feinstein handled allegation against Kavanaugh

Editorial

California doesn't need a provocateur in the Senate. It needs a leader. Reelect Dianne Feinstein

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In rebuke of Dianne Feinstein, Kevin de León wins endorsement of California Democrats in Senate race

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When did Dianne Feinstein start opposing the death penalty?

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De León discloses campaign finances at a snail’s pace

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Unlike New York’s Unions, California’s Are Backing an Insurgent Candidate

Commentary

How Dianne Feinstein handled Christine Blasey Ford’s letter

Editorial

Editorial: Feinstein’s experience, clout make her best U.S. Senate pick

Editorial

Editorial: Feinstein’s Disgrace

Commentary

Feinstein-de León Senate debate changed nothing