Republican Steve Garvey to Compete Against Adam Schiff for California Senate Seat
In a surprising turn of events, former baseball star Steve Garvey will be competing against Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff for the U.S. Senate seat in California. This race presents a rare opportunity for the Republican Party to compete in a marquee statewide race in what is typically considered a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, this matchup means that California will not have a woman in the Senate for the first time in over three decades.
Garvey, a former baseball MVP who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, celebrated his victory with cheering supporters in his hometown of Palm Desert. Despite the state’s Democratic tilt, Garvey warned Schiff not to underestimate him and vowed to run a campaign that would appeal across party lines. He plans to focus on issues such as inflation, the state’s unchecked homeless crisis, and rising crime rates in cities.
The primary election results put Garvey and Schiff as the top two vote-getters, advancing them to the general election in November. In California, all candidates, regardless of party, are placed on the same primary ballot, and the two candidates with the most votes move on to the general election. This often leads to Republicans being shut out of high-profile statewide races due to the Democrats’ stronghold in the state. However, Garvey’s success has broken this trend, providing an exciting opportunity for the GOP.
Despite Garvey’s achievement, Democrats are still expected to easily hold the Senate seat in November. A Republican has not won a Senate race in California since 1988. Nonetheless, this campaign represents a new era in California politics, marking the end of Feinstein’s long-held seat and the emergence of new contenders.
Garvey and Schiff have also advanced to the November ballot for the race to fill the remainder of Feinstein’s term. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to serve out Feinstein’s term, but Butler chose not to seek election to the seat. The winner of the November election will serve a truncated term until early January when the full six-year term will begin.
This U.S. Senate contest is California’s first open race since 2016. Even before Feinstein announced she would not seek reelection, ambitious Democrats in the state were eagerly waiting for their chance at the coveted seat. Garvey’s unexpected candidacy, supported by name recognition among older voters, added an unexpected twist to the race. The competition between Schiff and U.S. Rep. Katie Porter grew increasingly tense as both aimed for a spot in the general election.
Garvey’s successful bid for the fall ballot can be attributed, in part, to Schiff and supportive super political action committees that ran advertising campaigns highlighting Garvey’s conservative credentials. This indirectly boosted his visibility among Republican and right-leaning voters.
However, Garvey faces an uphill battle. The state Republican Party has been struggling in heavily Democratic California, with no GOP candidate winning a U.S. Senate race since 1988. Additionally, registered Democrats significantly outnumber Republican voters by a ratio of 2-to-1. In the 2016 and 2018 Senate races, Republicans did not even have a candidate on the general election ballot.
Despite these challenges, Garvey is hoping to follow in the footsteps of other famous athletes-turned-politicians, such as former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former professional basketball player Bill Bradley. Garvey describes himself as a “conservative moderate” and believes he should not be confined to conventional labels. While he has voted for former President Donald Trump in the past, he has not yet made up his mind about this year’s presidential contest. Garvey personally opposes abortion rights but does not support a nationwide abortion ban, emphasizing that he will always uphold the voice of the people.
Garvey’s campaign had to overcome the resurfacing of personal details that undermined his clean-cut public persona from his days as a Dodger. This includes having two children with women he was not married to. Despite these challenges, Garvey remains determined to make a mark in California politics and bring a fresh perspective to the Senate race.
As November approaches, all eyes will be on this high-stakes battle for the U.S. Senate seat in California. Will Garvey’s outsider status and appeal across party lines be enough to overcome the odds and secure victory? Only time will tell.
