Baseball legend Steve Garvey joins crowded field of California Senate candidates
Baseball great Steve Garvey announced Tuesday that he is running as a Republican to be the next senator from California. He enters a crowded race currently dominated by Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee.
“Our campaign is focused on quality-of-life issues, public safety, and education,” Garvey said in a statement. “As a U.S. Senator, I will serve with commonsense, compassion, and will work to build consensus to benefit all of the people of California.”
Garvey played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1987. He also chaired the Multiple Sclerosis Society and worked with a variety of causes including the Special Olympics, the Blind Children Center, United Way and Ronald McDonald House.
“I’ve been fortunate to wear many hats in my life — from professional athlete to businessman to philanthropist. But the one thing that has remained consistent is my love for this great state and my desire to make a difference,” Garvey said.
Garvey faces a difficult campaign. Schiff and Porter poll well ahead of him, and his Republican party membership is likely to be a liability in sapphire blue California. A September Public Policy Institute of California poll showed Schiff and Porter with double-digit support, while Garvey polled at 7%.
Other candidates for the Senate seat include Republican attorney Eric Early and Democratic tech executive Lexi Reese.
Though he is running as a Republican, that word does not appear anywhere on his campaign website.
Instead, his website focuses on introducing California voters to his backstory and vision for California.
Garvey argues on his website that California has failed to live up to the promise of a quality education.
“We must provide parents with more choices, reward grade teachers, and bring back important trade skills to our education system,” Garvey said on the website.
Garvey rips “career politicians” in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., for “continuously passing foolish laws and increasing taxes and fees, resulting in higher costs for our basic needs, such as food, gas, and shelter.”
Garvey’s website also touches on the topics of crime, national security, homelessness and small business.
Garvey told the Associated Press that he previously has voted for former President Donald Trump, but that he is not sure whom he will support in 2024.
His entrance into the race prompted Democratic rival Rep. Barbara Lee to issue a statement saying that “a pro-Trump, anti-choice extremist is the wrong person to represent a progressive state like California in the U.S. Senate.”
The contested Senate seat is currently held by Sen. Laphonza Butler, a Democrat appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom after the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Butler has yet to declare whether she intends to run for a full term of office.
California’s top-two primary election takes place March 5, 2024. The two candidates that garner the most votes will then go on to the runoff in November.
This story was originally published October 10, 2023 at 10:12 AM with the headline "Baseball legend Steve Garvey joins crowded field of California Senate candidates."