PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Former Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey hit a surprise home run in California's jungle primary in March, but can the Republican Senate candidate secure victory in November? In an interview with The Washington Post, Garvey shared his strategy and cautiously optimistic outlook.
Garvey has stressed that he wants to promote unity and civility in the Senate, and California could be poised to send a political switch-hitter to Washington this fall.
“I'm going to all 99 senators, I'm going to go to their offices, I'm going to hold my hand out and say, 'For the sake of your state and for the sake of your soul and for the sake of this country and the world, I want to work with you. Let's work together,'” Trump, a Republican, said of his plans on Capitol Hill.
Garvey is facing off against Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. Real Clear Politics On average, Schiff leads by more than 20 percentage points. Still, the Republican's ability to barely edge out Democrats Katie Porter and Barbara Lee in California's jungle primary has his supporters hopeful that an upset is possible. Plus, the former baseball star's popularity could help boost Republican turnout in some of the hotly contested House districts.
“We've come a long way, but I think we still have a long way to go,” Garvey said, emphasizing that he is a political outsider and intends to serve only one term if elected.
He said his top priorities in the Senate will include crime, education and homelessness, issues that have marred the state's political debate for years.
“First of all, I demand an audit of where the $20 to $25 billion spent on homelessness in California has been spent. I think this is a humanitarian disaster. We've been to all the inner cities of Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego,” Garvey said, adding that the roads in those cities are “almost unwalkable.”
After Garvey spoke to The Washington Post, former President Donald Trump hinted at the idea of a show of support, saying: NBC Los Angeles On Friday, he was reluctant to endorse the former slugger but urged him to do so nonetheless.
“I don't know much about Steve Garvey. I think he made a big mistake by not reaching out to MAGA,” Trump told local media, adding: “Without MAGA, you have no chance.”
Garvey, meanwhile, does not appear to be expecting the former president's endorsement, saying in a statement that his campaign is not aimed at “partisan or special interest.”
“From day one, I have run a different type of campaign. I have never accepted or sought political endorsements, and all I want is the endorsement of our law enforcement and first responders,” he said in a statement provided to The Washington Post. “My focus has been and will continue to be on the issues that really matter to Californians – housing affordability, public safety, border security, solving homelessness and restoring leadership in California.”
Garvey added that he will be dedicating resources to engaging with California's Latino community for the remainder of the election.
“California is a one-party state and it's a very narrow path. We have such a large gap in registration. But I think what we did to get through the primary has surprised a lot of people. We will win. I can't tell you today exactly how we're going to do it, but we have a pretty good plan,” he told The Post.
The winner of the seat would replace Democratic Sen. LaFonza Butler, who was appointed to the seat following the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who served in the Senate for decades. Feinstein, 90, did not plan to run for another term.
