California's Senate Candidates Make Final Push in Crowded Primary Race

Candidates are set to face off on Tuesday in California's crowded Senate race, where more than two dozen candidates are competing to represent the nation's most populous state. The top two vote-getters in the Golden State's so-called jungle primary, in which candidates from all parties are competing for a chance at the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat, will advance to the November general election.

Background of the Senate Race

The campaign for the seat in deep-blue California has been a long battle. Even before Feinstein said she wouldn't seek reelection, multiple candidates had already announced they would enter the race for a seat that hadn't been open for three decades. And it may be years before another opportunity, with the state's other seat being held by Sen. Alex Padilla, a 50-year-old Democrat who was nominated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to finish Vice President Kamala Harris' term and then elected to his first full term in 2022.

Major Candidates and Their Campaigns

Participating in the crowded primary — which includes a slew of lesser known individuals — are four major candidates. Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff has been considered the front-runner throughout the campaign. But a recent poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by The Los Angeles Times, had former professional baseball star Steve Garvey, a Republican, in a statistical tie for first. Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee and Katie Porter are also making a push to earn enough support to advance to the general election in November.

Candidate Profiles

Adam Schiff: The 63-year-old rose to national prominence during the first impeachment trial against President Donald Trump, when he served as lead prosecutor. First elected to Congress in 2000, he's also worked atop the House Intelligence Committee and on the Jan. 6 select committee, among others. Representing California's 30th district in the Los Angeles area, Schiff has the backing of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Steve Garvey: Garvey, 74, is a former infielder for the L.A. Dodgers and San Diego Padres. More than three decades after he left baseball, the Republican has positioned his bid for the Senate on returning the Golden State to its former glory.

Katie Porter: Porter, 50, represents California's 47th District in the Orange County area. She's been in Congress since 2019, after she flipped a longtime Republican seat in an area that was once home to Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. After arriving in Congress, she gained attention on social media for blasting corporate and government officials in congressional hearings with her signature whiteboard.

Barbara Lee: Lee, 77, has been in Congress since 1998. The progressive icon, who's regularly pushed the envelope on liberal ideals in the state and elsewhere, represents California's 12th District in the Oakland area.

Recent Poll Results

While Schiff had consistently led in recent polling, Garvey propelled his way to a "statistical tie" with Schiff in the latest poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. Garvey had the backing of 27% of likely voters, while Schiff had 25%. Porter trailed with 19%, while Lee had 8%.

Expectations for November

Democrats haven't lost an election to the U.S. Senate since 1988, and the seat is ultimately expected to remain in Democratic control come November. But Garvey could shut Porter and Lee, two prominent progressives, out of the race months before then, kneecapping their campaigns before they have a chance to make inroads against Schiff.

In a matchup between Schiff and Garvey, Schiff leads by fifteen points, according to the UC Berkeley polling. The candidates will have big shoes to fill, after Feinstein's 30-year tenure. She was first elected to the seat in 1992 and remained in office until her death in September 2023.

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