Just days after being officially sworn in to the 118th Congress, Rep. Katie Porter has her eyes on higher office.

The Southern California Democrat announced Tuesday that she is running for U.S. Senate in California, potentially setting up a showdown in the Golden State in 2024.

"We're living through a time of extraordinary change," Porter said in a video posted to social media announcing her candidacy. "Change can be electrifying and exhilarating. But change can also be disruptive, like the constant assault on our democracy and the dangerous imbalance in our economy."

Porter took aim at GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell, saying that "the threat from so-called leaders" like the Kentucky Republican "has too often made the United States Senate the place where rights get revoked, special interests get rewarded and our democracy gets rigged."

"Especially in times like these, California needs a warrior in Washington," she added. "That's exactly why I'm announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate in 2024."

Porter is seeking the seat currently held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who at 89 is currently the oldest sitting U.S. Senator and oldest current member of Congress. Feinstein has not publicly announced her plans for 2024, though it is expected she will not run for re-election. 

“Everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement concerning my plans for 2024 at the appropriate time," Feinstein said in a statement to Spectrum News. "Right now I’m focused on ensuring California has all the resources it needs to cope with the devastating storms slamming the state and leaving more than a dozen dead.”

Regardless of Feinstein's decision to run, the California Senate race is expected to be highly competitive. Sara Sadhwani, an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College, said that while it was "definitely an early time" for Porter to announce her candidacy, the timing could be to her benefit in what she believes "is no doubt going to be a tight race."

"Of course, the early bird gets the worm, I suppose," Sadhwani told Spectrum News. "And I'm sure ... Porter is hoping to garner a lot of interest and support early on staking her claim for that seat before any of her competitors could get out there."

Sadhwani called it "an interesting play" that Porter announced her candidacy before Feinstein made a decision about her future.

"It's really almost pushing Feinstein to step down," she said, noting that former California Sen. Barbara Boxer played an "important role" in helping to support her successor in the seat, Kamala Harris.

"It'll be interesting to see if Feinstein actually does step down, although most people do believe she probably will ... and if Feinstein will offer a an endorsement for any candidate in particular for 2024," Sadhwani added.

Back in November, a source told Spectrum News that Rep. Adam Schiff was exploring a Senate run "if she decides to retire at the end of her term in 2024" rather than seeking a position in House Democratic leadership. He has not publicly announced any decision. 

A source close to Rep. Schiff told Spectrum News on Tuesday that the Burbank Congressman has no plans to announce a Senate run in the midst of a natural disaster, referencing the wicked weather impacting the state.

While Sadhwani acknowledged the point that "while it might not be the best of times" to make such an announcement, she added: "But really, when is?"

"I think that the state and the country is in need of leadership," she continued. "There's been a lot of questions about the leadership that we've been receiving from Sen. Feinstein for the last several years. I think it makes sense that [Porter] would come out at this point in time to throw her hat in the ring."

A poll conducted by David Binder Research shared by Porter's campaign found her leading Schiff 30-29 in a survey of likely non-Republican voters in the 2024 primary, followed by 9% for Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and 6% for Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., two other potential challengers. Sixteen percent of respondents said they were undecided, while 9% would vote for a GOP candidate and 1% would not vote in the contest at all.

In a potential head-to-head matchup in November, the same poll showed Porter leading Schiff 37-26, with 19% abstaining and 18% undecided. California utilizes a top two primary system, so the two leading candidates in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the November general election.

"That could mean that it's two Democrats vying for a Senate seat, whether that be Sen. Feinstein and a challenger, or two new people if Feinstein chooses to stand down in 2024," Sadhwani said. "That means that there will need to be a whole lot of fundraising amongst candidates, and ... California is a very diverse state, things like geography of where you are from and where your base of support comes from, the amount of money you can fundraise, even demographics."

"Someone like Ro Khanna could come in and share his immigrant story, or even his story of being a person of color in California, and that might resonate very well with diverse communities here in the state," she continued. "So there's a whole host of considerations for anyone who's attempting to win that seat in 2024."

One thing Sadhwani believes is certain: The seat is likely to stay in Democratic hands, a welcome sign for the part amid a tough 2024 Senate map.

"Certainly there are Republicans throughout the state, or more conservative-minded independents as well," she said. "But we have in statewide elections we have not seen a Republican be able to secure a statewide election, even at lower levels of governance. Most guesses is that this seat does stay in the hands of a Democrat."

Porter, who serves as deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, was first elected in 2018 and has risen to prominence in the Democratic party for her tough lines of questioning during Congressional hearings. Her rising star profile has also led to the congresswoman becoming one of the top fundraisers in the House of Representatives. According to OpenSecrets, Porter was the No. 2 fundraiser among House candidates in 2021-22 with more than $25 million raised, ahead of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at $24.4 million, and behind House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., at $26.4 million.

According to an email sent by Porter's campaign on Wednesday, the candidate raised $1.3 million in online donations in the first 24 hours of her announcement.

That comes on the heels of the California Democrat raising more than $250,000 in 90 minutes since her campaign's launch Tuesday morning, per Porter's communications director.

When asked about Porter's announcement, fellow California Democrat Pete Aguilar – who chairs the caucus in the House – praised the quality of their members as they go on to higher office.

"The aspirations and hopes of our members aren't lost on me," Aguilar told Spectrum News. "There's a point of pride when when a member of our caucus wants to run," listing former members like John Carney, now the governor of Delaware, Michelle Lujan Grisham, the governor of New Mexico, Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján and recently elected Vermont Sen. Peter Welch.

"I understand that sometimes people come to the House and want to run for other things," he continued. "I think it's an amazing thing. I think it's a tribute to our caucus, and obviously as a voter in California I'll have I'll have an opinion later."