The Senate race in California is intensifying as new polling data emerges. Former baseball star Steve Garvey, a Republican candidate, is currently engaged in a close contest for the late Dianne Feinstein's seat. The upcoming Super Tuesday will determine the top two finishers who will advance to the November general election, irrespective of their party affiliations. A recent Berkeley poll indicates that political newcomer Republican Steve Garvey is statistically tied with Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, with Schiff's House colleague Katie Porter trailing in third place among the 27 candidates on the ballot.
Despite the Republican candidate leading the race heading into Super Tuesday, political analysts anticipate that the seat will likely remain in Democratic hands come November. California has not elected a Republican to a statewide office since Arnold Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial victory in 2006. The same Berkeley poll also suggests that in a head-to-head matchup in the general election, Schiff would defeat Garvey by 15 points. However, a race between Schiff and Porter would be a toss-up, with both Democrats polling at 30 points.
Schiff's campaign has invested heavily in statewide advertisements that have inadvertently boosted the profile of Republican candidate Steve Garvey in the race. While Porter has employed a similar strategy against another Republican contender, she has criticized Schiff's approach for potentially diminishing her chances of securing a spot on the November ballot. Porter argues that the focus should be on selecting the most qualified and competitive female candidate who can secure victory in November.
Garvey, who has refrained from spending on TV ads, acknowledges that Schiff's campaign tactics have inadvertently worked in his favor, leading to a significant surge in momentum over the past few months. The Senate race in California has now become the most expensive in the state's history, with campaign expenditures exceeding $65 million, nearly three times the combined spending of the last three California Senate races.
