Former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres star Steve Garvey has a lead over Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in California’s bipartisan Senate primary, according to a new poll.
Garvey, a Republican and 10-time MLB All-Star, received a 27% approval rating. Los Angeles Times/Berkeley IGS Poll It was released on Friday.
In a tight race for the seat once held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), pollsters measured support for Schiff at 25%.
According to the poll, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) received 19% and 8% support, respectively.
The poll’s margin of error is 2 percentage points, meaning Schiff and Garvey are tied in the primary.
The top two vote-getters in the March 5 vote, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the November runoff.
California voters will choose a partial-term Senate candidate to replace Sen. LaFonza Butler (D-Calif.), who was appointed pro tempore from November until the start of the next term, and for a term starting in 2016. You will be asked to choose a candidate. It will be implemented for six years starting from January 2025.
Garvey, Schiff, Porter and Lee will run in both races.
Mr. Garvey leads Mr. Schiff by 6 points in the primary (29% to 23%).
“I am deeply humbled by the confidence and support shown by Californians in this latest poll,” Garvey said in a statement. “This means that our message of addressing the real problems that Californians care about with compassionate, common-sense solutions resonates more than the tired political bickering of career politicians. It shows you are calling.”
“It’s clear that people are ready for new leadership that will unite us to build a brighter future for California.”
Garvey campaign spokesman Matt Shoop said the former baseball star’s “half-century-long ties to Californians transcend politics and will be a formidable force in both the primary and general elections.”
Previously, the same poll showed Garvey’s approval rating at 13% in the early January term election.
The pollster said “voter support for Garvey has increased significantly over the past six weeks” as Republicans and prominent conservative voters solidified support for the former slugger.
Mr. Garvey is also likely to benefit from low turnout in the primary. He is just days away from the primary, but only 9% of Californians have returned their mail-in ballots.
The poll says, “Mr. Garvey is the person who would benefit most from a low turnout election scenario, because Mr. Garvey has a significant advantage in this area among Republicans, and he and Mr. Schiff “Both are the two candidates most popular among older voters, white people, and homeowners.”
The survey was conducted February 22-27 among 6,536 registered voters in California.
