The unexpected journey of former MLB star Steve Garvey into the political arena has captivated many in California and beyond. Recently, Garvey, a Republican candidate, made headlines by advancing to the general election alongside Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff, thanks to a significant financial boost from Schiff's campaign. This unusual political play highlights the complexities of California's primary system and the strategic maneuvers that can occur within it.
In the context of California's "jungle primary," where the top two candidates advance regardless of party affiliation, Garvey's candidacy exemplifies both the opportunities and challenges faced by Republican candidates in a predominantly blue state. This article will explore Garvey's background, the controversies surrounding his campaign, and the potential impact of ranked-choice voting as a solution to the issues raised by this election cycle.
The Dodgers don’t usually get any intentional help from their archrivals, the Giants. But something that strange just happened in California’s primary: Former Dodgers great and current Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey advanced to the general election along with Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff — after being elevated almost entirely by the other team. The former National League MVP’s long-shot bid for the Senate benefited from an estimated $35 million in television ads from a surprising source: Schiff and his allies.
Why did the Burbank Democrat spend a small fortune boosting Garvey’s name recognition and blanketing the airwaves with ads that touted the former first baseman’s conservative credentials? You might call it a squeeze play: Schiff wanted to keep his two closest Democratic competitors out of the fall race, and he succeeded. Garvey claimed the second-highest vote total in the top-two primary, while Democratic Reps. Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland finished in third and fourth, leaving them out of the running.
This is a classic example of a problem that could be solved by ranked-choice voting, a tested, nonpartisan reform that discourages this sort of gamesmanship and more accurately represents what a majority of voters want.
Schiff’s skulduggery was unfortunate but
