Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and his primary Democratic opponents have pushed former Dodgers baseball player Steve Garvey, a Republican running for U.S. Senate from California, into second place in many surveys.
Former Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away in September, and Republican and 10-time MLB All-Star Garvey formally declared his candidacy for the seat. Garvey played for the Dodgers and the Padres for 19 seasons.
Since Pete Wilson’s 1988 election, the Golden State has not had a Republican senator. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other Republicans with star power have been able to win statewide races in previous years.
Almost nobody gave Garvey a fighting chance. However, under California’s “jungle” primary system, which begins on March 5 and involves all party candidates competing in a single pool, there is a possibility he could go on to the general election in November.
In a Thursday pitch, the Senate campaign of Orange County Democratic Representative Katie Porter claimed that “a famous Republican” is gaining momentum in the polls, and he might progress to second place and prohibit us from qualifying for the general election.
Democrats are upset because the 10-time All-Star jumped to second place in a recent poll by Politico-Morning Consult, behind Porter and Oakland Representative Barbara Lee.
The prominent Democrats now have more urgency than ever, even though it would be far more difficult for a Republican to beat a Democrat in November due to the Democrats’ 2-to-1 edge in party registration over the GOP.
The Democratic base in California still finds appeal in Schiff’s role in spearheading the first impeachment process against then-President Trump, and he has used this to his advantage in fundraising, making him the favorite to win the primary and the general election.
Garvey has been silent on essential matters like border security and has failed to provide suggestions.
Aside from lamenting California’s decline from national leadership, he stressed the unifying power of sports.
As a Republican, he has also been mum on the subject of former president Trump and his 2024 political stance or voting history.
