Former National League MVP Steve Garvey has advanced in the race to represent California in the U.S. Senate.
In the state’s primary election on Tuesday, Garvey finished second in balloting and will face former U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff in November’s general election. The two are vying to fill the seat long held by Dianne Feinstein, who died in September.
California’s voting system puts all the candidates, regardless of party affiliation, on the same ballot. According to state election results, Schiff and Garvey easily outdistanced the other contenders, with Schiff gathering 33.1 percent of votes and Garvey 32.4 percent.
Schiff is a Democrat and Garvey a Republican. The last Republican senator elected from California was Pete Wilson in 1982 (re-elected in 1988).
Garvey, 75, still retains name recognition in the state, where he played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-82) and San Diego Padres (1983-87). He was a 10-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove first baseman, a two-time National League Championship Series MVP and a World Series champion with the Dodgers in 1981.
“Welcome to the California comeback,” Garvey told the crowd gathered in a Palm Desert hotel ballroom Tuesday night. “What you are all feeling tonight is what it’s like to hit a walk-off home run.”
And keeping with the baseball theme, he reminded his supporters to vote in the general election.
“Keep in mind, this is the first game of a doubleheader. So keep the evening of Nov. 5 open, as we’ll celebrate again.”
Garvey has made the economy, homelessness in the state, crime and the U.S.-Mexico border key talking points in his campaign.
–Field Level Media