Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey will face off in November in the race to fill California’s Senate seat, NBC News projects.
The contest to replace Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving woman in the Senate when she died last year, had been a competition among three of the country’s leading Democrats in a state where the party has a 2-1 advantage over Republicans — before baseball star-turned-celebrity pitchman Steve Garvey entered the race as a Republican. The former player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres was a first-time candidate with few policy positions.
All of the candidates, regardless of party, went up against each other on the same primary ballot. Now the top two vote-getters move on to the general election in November.
No Republican has won a U.S. Senate race in California since 1988, when Pete Wilson was re-elected to the position, according to congressional records. Democratic registration is at 47% compared to 24% for Republicans.
During his playing days, Garvey, 75, was a 10-time All-Star, the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1974, and the National League Championship Series MVP in 1978 and 1984. After his retirement promoted such companies such as Pepsi-Cola, Chevrolet, Gillette and McDonald’s.
On his campaign website, he lists such issues as homelessness, immigration, crime, and environmental stewardship but does not offer policies to address them. He does say Israel’s right to self-defense is paramount and has said that he would not support a nationwide abortion ban.
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