Schiff, Garvey head for November runoff in race for Feinstein’s senate seat

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks to supporters at the headquarters of the advocacy group, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, Feb. 17, 2024. The possibility of record-low turnout in California’s U.S. Senate race is elevating the chances of Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey to advance to the general election in November. The Democratic side has been dominated for months by Schiff, who has been leading the crowded field in fundraising and polling for the seat once held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. (AP Photo/Michael R. Blood)

LOS ANGELES – Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican former Dodger Steve Garvey topped a crowded field of candidates tonight looking to claim the U.S. Senate seat previously held by the late Dianne Feinstein, and they will advance to a head-to-head November runoff.

Adam Schiff led the way among the more than two dozen candidates seeking the seat, with Garvey placing second. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, was a distant third, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, placed fourth. Many pundits were anticipating a Schiff-Garvey runoff, with most believing it could result in an easy Schiff victory in heavily Democratic California as they fight for a full six-year term in the Senate.

Schiff and Garvey will actually appear twice on the November ballot, with both also seeking to fill out the remainder of Feinstein’s term, which ends in January. Schiff claimed victory at a Hollywood rally, but his speech was interrupted by protesters who loudly chanted “Cease fire now” and “Free Palestine.”

While security officials dragged some protesters out of the room, seemingly dozens of others remained, persistently chanting and forcing Schiff to try to speak over the din. He was able to thank supporters and his family. “It looks like we’re going to the general, ladies and gentlemen,” Schiff said.

“So a little over a year ago we kicked off this campaign and I won’t say it wasn’t without its bumps along the way. I seem to recall, although it’s a little hazy, within hours of our announcement a certain Kevin McCarthy kicked me off the Intelligence Committee. And then at the urging and badgering of Donald Trump, the Republicans censured me for holding him accountable. And then Trump would attack me after rally after rally.”

“But you had my back every step of the way, every step of the way. You helped us build the biggest grassroots campaign for Senate in California history and I cannot thank you enough.”

FILE -Candidates, from left, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and former baseball player Steve Garvey, stand on stage during a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

It was then that protests broke out, and Schiff struggled to speak over the shouts, which highlighted a critical issue Democrats will be facing in the November elections — the U.S. handling of the Israeli-Hamas war. Things were notably calmer in Palm Desert, where Garvey also proclaimed victory in heading toward the November runoff. He compared the election results to “what it’s like to hit a walk-off home run.”

“Your vote was your shared belief with me that California is no longer the heartbeat of America — but now just a murmur,” Garvey said. “That we have challenges to face up to — like closing the border. And responsibilities to live up to —like helping the homeless off the streets with a pathway back to their dignity. And that if we do those things and more — that our best days will be ahead of us. With California once again being the heartbeat of America. As we celebrate tonight — I want you to know that we haven’t come this far, to only go this far.”

“When I stepped on the field for the Dodgers and Padres, I didn’t play for Democrats, Republicans or Independents — I played for all the fans. And now I’m running for all of the people.” Porter conceded defeat during a gathering with supporters in Long Beach, saying that she remains convinced that voters want to see change in Washington.

“You want leaders who demand better from both parties, leaders who want progress not partisanship, officials whose bottom line is people, not profits,” she said. “That is why we were able to turn heads in this campaign and make the people in power listen and run scared.”

“Let’s be honest, I think all of us can agree that our government isn’t working well for us, for families, for Californians, for workers, for consumers. So many of those in power are too interested in helping other powerful people instead of paying attention to the needs of everyday people. Too many are more interested in being an elected official than in actually doing anything to fix the problems that everyday people face.”

Lee issued a statement early Tuesday night thanking her campaign supporters and stressing the issues she was fighting for in the campaign. “Universal healthcare, climate justice, economic equity, reproductive freedom, peace and security around the world — these are only ideas if we don’t fight for them,” Lee said.

“They’re fights I’ve dedicated my life to. And seeing the passion and enthusiasm on the ground, willing to do the work and come out and join this fight — I couldn’t be prouder to know that progress is happening here in California.”

When Feinstein died in September, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed former Emily’s List President Laphonza Butler to serve out most of the remainder of her term in the Senate, until someone else is elected. Butler decided not to run for the seat.

Adam Schiff, 62, the leader in the polls and in fundraising, ran on a platform of protecting democracy. He has been ridiculed by Donald Trump for his criticism of the former president from various posts: as Trump impeachment manager in 2020, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a member of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

“We’re in the fight of our lives for the future of our country,” Schiff said in a statement launching his campaign last year. “Our democracy is under assault from MAGA extremists, who care only about gaining power and keeping it. And our economy is simply not working for millions of Americans, who are working harder than ever just to get by.”

In June, Schiff was censured by the Republican-led House on a party-line vote for comments he made during the investigations into Trump’s ties to Russia. Schiff took the censure by Republicans as a badge of honor. “For the first time in generations, our country and its citizens are seeing their rights and freedoms recede, not expand,” Schiff said on his campaign’s website.

“From abortion and reproductive care to LGBTQ equality and the ability to vote — all of these inherent rights are under assault. We need to preserve and protect our rights and freedoms — and yes, expand them — not take them away, as reactionary MAGA Republicans and a partisan Supreme Court have successfully done over the last few years.”

Schiff said he will also tackle the twin crises of housing affordability and homelessness. “We simply do not have enough housing that’s affordable, and because of that, we have seen a dramatic rise in people experiencing homelessness,”
Schiff said.

“We need to build hundreds of thousands of units of affordable housing each year in California alone, and help those struggling to pay for housing every day.” He added that the government needs to dramatically change how it approaches homelessness, not only to prevent people from ending up on the streets but also to find effective methods of housing them.

One of the main components of Schiff’s campaign is his affordability agenda. “California working families are facing an affordability crisis. And we can do something about it,” Schiff said. “Corporations are raising the prices of goods with little oversight and swallowing up their competition. We need federal price gouging rules, better antitrust enforcement, and to drive down the costs of prescription drugs and gas — all while protecting and empowering workers.”

Adam Schiff was first elected to Congress in 2000, representing a large swath of the greater Los Angeles area. Previously he served as a California state senator and as an assistant U.S. Attorney. Critics have said that Garvey, 75, faces an uphill battle as a Republican hasn’t won a Senate race in the state since 1988. However, Republicans have a history of conveying star quality into statewide victories.

Arnold Schwarzenegger used his star power to become California’s governor from 2003 to 2011. And in recent weeks, Garvey’s campaign surged, and he even emerged as the leading candidate in a recent poll — with Democrats splitting their support among the other three top candidates.

Throughout the campaign, Garvey has leaned into his baseball career. “I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents. I played for all of you,” Garvey said in a video launching his campaign in October. “It’s time to get off the bench. It’s time to get back in the game.”

Garvey’s entrance into the race gave Republicans a recognized name to many Californians. “Our campaign is focused on quality-of-life issues, public safety and education,” Garvey said in a statement announcing his candidacy. Garvey said solving the homelessness crisis is one of his top priorities.

“We can’t just offer temporary fixes; we need to dig deep and provide comprehensive care that includes mental health, addiction treatment, and affordable housing,” Garvey said on his campaign’s website. “This issue is about restoring hope, dignity, and humanity to our fellow Californians that are struggling on our streets.”

The former baseball player said his focus will also be on public safety. “I fully back our law enforcement and believe in the power of community policing and innovative crime prevention,” Garvey said. “I’ll work towards building strong partnerships between law enforcement and communities.”

Garvey insisted he will improve the quality of life for Californians. “It’s about creating opportunities for every Californian to live a fulfilling life. From boosting our economy in these tough times, ensuring everyone has access to quality healthcare, to investing in our communities,” he said.

Garvey stated he would also tackle the issue of immigration. “We need a balanced approach to immigration. This means we must secure borders, while also respecting the dignity and aspirations of those who come here seeking a better life,” Garvey said.

Other issues Garvey has focused on include improving the education system, supporting “practical climate action that balances our ecological needs with economic growth,” and supporting sustainable agriculture that’s “both environmentally friendly, economically viable.”

Schiff raised eyebrows during the campaign by running ads that framed the race as a contest between his Democratic credentials and Garvey’s record. Those ads helped boost Garvey in the polls. Political analysts said Schiff was intentionally raising Garvey up so can fend off the Democratic candidates and dispatch Garvey in the November election.

“It’s pretty clear Schiff is trying to bolster Garvey’s credibility as his opponent in the runoff and then Schiff can take the rest of the summer off,” Democratic political consultant Garry South told the Los Angeles Times. Because of Democrats’ overwhelming voter registration edge in the state and California’s open primary system, analysts have opined that the race for the Senate will effectively be over if Schiff faces Garvey.