Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican former baseball player Steve Garvey will face each other in the November runoff election for the U.S. Senate seat in California, according to the results of the primary election held on Tuesday, March 5.
Schiff and Garvey were the top two vote-getters among the 10 candidates who competed in the nonpartisan blanket primary, in which all candidates regardless of party affiliation appear on the same ballot and the two highest-placing candidates advance to the general election.
Schiff, who represents California’s 30th congressional district in Los Angeles, is a prominent and influential figure in the Democratic Party. He is the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a leading voice on national security and foreign policy issues.
He is also a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and a key player in his impeachment trials. The Democratic Representative has campaigned on his legislative record and his vision for a more progressive and inclusive California. In a previous statement, he said,
“Make the economy work for people. For millions of people, they’re working harder than ever and they’re still struggling to get by. We need to bring down the cost of housing first and foremost here in California….need to fight for an economy that, you know, that rewards folks who are working hard with a good quality of life and, but also save our democracy from a would-be dictator.”
On the other hand Steve Garvey, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, is a popular and charismatic figure in the Republican Party. Unlike his opponent, he is a staunch supporter of Trump and his policies, and a vocal opponent of the Biden administration and the Democratic agenda. He has campaigned on his conservative values and his vision for a more prosperous and secure California.
The race for the U.S. Senate seat in California is one of the most competitive and expensive in the country, as it could determine the balance of power in the upper chamber.
The seat was previously held by Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who died in office in September 2023, after serving in the Senate since 1992 (roughly more than 30 years). She was replaced by Democrat Laphonza Butler, who declined to run for either a full term or to finish the final two months of Feinstein’s term.
California is considered to be a safe blue state, but the primary results showed a close race between Schiff and Garvey, with the former receiving 35.6% of the vote and the latter receiving 30.1% of the vote, according to AP News.
The runoff election will take place on November 5, 2024, along with another special election for the same seat, to fill the remainder of Feinstein’s term until January 3, 2025. Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey will also compete in that election, which will have the same candidates and ballot as the primary election.
The winner of the special election will serve in the Senate for the final weeks of the 118th United States Congress, while the winner of the general election will serve a full six-year term starting in the 119th United States Congress.
