Following Tuesday’s primary night, Californians are facing significant choices. The upcoming U.S. senatorial race is poised between Democratic Representative Adam Schiff and Republican former L.A. Dodger Steve Garvey. Additionally, Proposition 1 indicates a likelihood of the state expanding its mental health and substance abuse treatment infrastructure while revamping the funding mechanisms for mental health programs.
The emergence of Adam Schiff as a contender for the November ballot comes as no surprise, given his consistent lead in both polling and fundraising throughout the campaign. In his victory address, Schiff expressed gratitude to his family, supporters, as well as notable figures like former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.
During his speech, Adam Schiff faced disruption from protesters chanting “ceasefire now” and “let Gaza live,” referring to the Israeli invasion. Despite the interruption, Schiff acknowledged the demonstrators before leaving the stage and encouraged audience members to continue striving for victory in November.
Schiff remarked, “We are fortunate to live in a democracy where everyone has the right to protest… and it’s crucial to maintain this type of democracy.”
While Steve Garvey showed strong performance on Tuesday night, the momentum appears to favor Schiff once again for the general election. With Democratic Representatives Katie Porter and Barbara Lee no longer in the race, voters in November will face a clear partisan choice in a deeply blue state where Republicans haven’t won statewide since 2006.
Throughout the primary campaign, Schiff and Garvey engaged in debates over various issues such as the federal minimum wage, fossil fuel energy, and the role of former President Donald Trump. While Garvey has been evasive about his stance on voting for Trump in November, he did support him in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. On the other hand, Schiff emphasized his pivotal role in leading the first impeachment trial against Trump in 2020 as a significant aspect of his Senate candidacy.
The victor of this race will assume office later this year and will serve alongside U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, marking the end of California’s three-decade streak of having at least one female senator.