Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank has claimed victory in California’s U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican and former Dodgers star Steve Garvey. The Associated Press called the win for Schiff soon after the polls closed, reflecting his widespread support in a state with a significant Democratic majority.
The general election marked a stark contrast to the high-spending, contentious Democratic primary. Schiff and his campaign invested over $35 million in primary ads, painting Garvey as “too conservative for California.” This tactic helped solidify Republican support for Garvey, allowing him to narrowly advance past Democratic competitor Rep. Katie Porter, who finished well behind. Garvey, 75, held few public events and struggled to appeal to California voters, with Republicans having been out of statewide office for almost two decades.
The late Sen. Dianne Feinstein held her seat for over three decades, while her predecessor, Sen. Barbara Boxer, served for nearly 25 years. These seats have been launching points for prominent figures like Harris, President Nixon, and former Gov. Pete Wilson.
California voters faced two Senate questions on the ballot — one to fill Feinstein’s unexpired term, ending in January, and the other for a full six-year term. Official certification is required before Schiff can take his seat, as noted by a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer.
This election will bring two male senators to California for the first time in over 30 years, with Sen. Alex Padilla having won his seat in 2022 following his appointment when Harris became vice president.
Schiff’s political career began in law, with his early work as an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, later moving to Congress and gaining national attention on the House Intelligence Committee. He was a central figure in the investigation into Russia’s 2016 election interference and played a high-profile role in Trump’s first impeachment trial.
Throughout the race, both candidates made Trump a central issue. Schiff highlighted Garvey’s loyalty to Trump, while Garvey accused Schiff of dishonesty regarding Trump-Russia collusion claims, arguing that Schiff’s focus on Trump neglected California’s needs.
Schiff is a liar.