Schiff and Garvey poised for California Senate general election, projections suggest
Schiff and Garvey are on track for the California Senate general election, as projected by CNN.
Democratic Representative Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey have secured spots in the general election for California's open Senate seat, according to CNN's projection. This sets the stage for a challenging race for the state's struggling GOP.
Schiff and Garvey participated in two Senate races on Tuesday: one to complete the remaining term of the late Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, from November to January, and another for a full six-year term starting in January 2025.
Democrat Laphonza Butler, who took over the seat after Feinstein's passing last fall, decided not to run for a full term. In California's open primary system, all candidates compete on one ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election. With Democrats outnumbering Republicans 2-to-1 in the state, the seat is expected to remain Democratic in November.
Garvey managed to beat two Democratic congresswomen, Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, to secure a spot on the general election ballot. Despite raising much less money than his opponents and not airing any TV ads.
During the final weeks of the campaign, Schiff and his supporters spent millions on ads attacking Garvey as "too conservative" for California. This strategy was believed to be aimed at increasing Republican voter turnout. Garvey, who only raised $2.1 million compared to Schiff's $31 million by February 14, did not allocate any funds towards TV ads.
Some progressives raised concerns that Schiff's strategy of encouraging more Republicans to vote could unintentionally result in higher GOP turnout in down-ballot races. Porter criticized the ad strategy as "brazenly cynical" and accused Schiff of distorting conservative Garvey's political stance - although Garvey has supported Donald Trump in the past, he has also expressed openness to voting for President Joe Biden in 2024.
In addition to targeting Garvey, Porter began to highlight businessman Eric Early, another Republican, in digital ads and during the final Senate debate. Porter argued that Early was the true pro-Trump candidate in the race, a move seen as an attempt to divide the Republican vote.
Porter defended her criticism of Early by stating that Schiff was distorting Garvey's record, while she was providing accurate information.
During the upcoming general election, Schiff is expected to highlight his role as a prominent opponent of Trump in the House. This reputation was reinforced by his involvement in the former president's impeachment and other investigations. Last year, Republicans took Schiff off the House Intelligence Committee and censured him for his actions in investigating Trump, a move that Schiff proudly referred to as a "badge of honor."
Garvey will be under increased pressure to raise funds and clearly communicate his policy positions. During primary debates, he typically avoided taking clear stances on important issues and attempted to balance between supporting Trump and creating distance from the former president.
Schiff, Porter, and Lee joined the race early last year, with Garvey starting his campaign in October.
Feinstein, who held the seat for more than 30 years, announced last February that she would not seek re-election. She died in September at age 90.
Editor's P/S:
The upcoming California Senate race between Democratic Representative Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey promises to be a fascinating contest. Schiff's aggressive strategy of attacking Garvey as too conservative for California may have backfired, as some progressives fear it could boost GOP turnout in down-ballot races. Garvey, who has struggled to raise funds and articulate his policy positions, faces an uphill battle against the well-funded Schiff.
The race also highlights the growing divide within the Republican Party, with Garvey's support for Trump putting him at odds with the state's more moderate GOP voters. Schiff's role as a prominent opponent of Trump will likely resonate with California's Democratic base, making him the clear frontrunner in this crucial race.
