A swarm of thousands of demonstrators caused chaos at the California Democratic Convention on Saturday as they demanded party leaders to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The protest, which began with a sit-in inside the Safe Credit Union Convention Center building, quickly escalated as approximately 2,500 others joined in. The demonstrations resulted in blocked roads, interrupted proceedings, and forced officials to cancel planned events for safety reasons.

Shouting slogans like "Cease-fire now, Cease-fire now," the demonstrators locked down entrances to the convention center, prompting security measures. Despite the upheaval, Rep. Barbara Lee, who has endorsed a ceasefire, was not subjected to significant heckling during her time on stage.

This disruption mirrored a similar incident at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, where demonstrators clashed with Capitol Police. The protesters demanded a ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli war against Hamas, leading top House Democrats to flee the scene.

The events in Sacramento and Washington highlight the deepening divide within the party regarding the Israeli conflict, which intensified after Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7. While reports suggest that Hamas and Israel are nearing a hostage deal, nothing has been finalized yet.

Despite the disturbances, the California Democrats managed to proceed with their endorsement process for the Senate race. The state's Senate primary for the 2024 election cycle is anticipated to be a highly expensive battle. Four Democrats are vying for the Senate seat previously held by the late Sen. Diane Feinstein, which has been temporarily filled by Laphonza Butler, who has stated that she will not run to defend it.

In California's primary system, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election. This was evident in 2016 when Kamala Harris, then-attorney general, competed against Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.). Democrats face the challenge of defending 23 Senate seats in the upcoming 2024 cycle, compared to the 11 seats the Republicans must safeguard. The Democrats currently hold a slim 51 to 49 seat majority.