(KRON/NEXSTAR) — Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and leading Republican candidate Steve Garvey will face each other in November’s general election after topping California’s United States Senate primary on Tuesday, the Associated Press projects. Schiff, the de facto front-runner, has been leading in the polls for several months now.
Having succeeded in eclipsing two other well-known Democrats, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Schiff will head into the general election a heavy favorite to become California’s next Senator.
In a victory speech that was interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters, Schiff thanked Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, among others.
“I want to give a special shoutout tonight to Speaker Pelosi, the greatest speaker of all-time, who gave me such an incredible opportunity to serve in the U.S. Congress and to take on some of the most important leadership roles in our Democracy,” Schiff said. “I also want to thank Barbara Boxer who encouraged me to run for the Congress and has been with me every step of the way.”
Garvey, a former Major League Baseball star who had successful spells with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, has surged in the polls recently after a relatively quiet start. One recent poll leading up to the election even had him in a statistical tie with Schiff for first place.
“Welcome to the California comeback,” Garvey said to a crowd in Southern California. “What you all are feeling tonight is what it feels to hit a knockoff home run.”
Having already upset the race by beating out two of California’s leading Democrats, the first-time candidate seems to have successfully consolidated the GOP vote. He also may have benefited from a strategy deployed by the Schiff campaign that sought to elevate Garvey above the other two leading Democrats in the race, which would ensure a November victory for Schiff.
However, in deep blue California, it remains to be seen whether Garvey will be capable of translating his success in the primary over to the general election.
Schiff and Garvey are in the running to fill the seat long-held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Currently, the seat is occupied by Sen. Laphonza Butler, who was temporarily appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The two candidates are running for the full Senate term that starts in January 2025 and for a partial term to take over for Butler between November and January.
With 42% of the vote in, Schiff was leading with nearly 36% to Garvey’s 30%. Porter was in third place with 15% while Barbara Lee trailed a distant third with just 7% of the vote.
In California’s primary system, the top two candidates advance to the general election, regardless of party.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.