If Rice runs for Senate, I see California being competitive at the presidential level.
No. California won't be Democratic forever, just like Texas won't for Republicans. It's time for excitment in California politics again, not low-turnout elections because the voters know who will win already. Fresno mayor Ashley Swearengin won't run, she should have. She could have beaten Harris as well.
http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-fresno-mayor-swearengin-passes-on-senate-race-20150227-story.html