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Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey and Democratic Senate candidate Adam Schiff.
CNN
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Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican Rep. Steve Garvey advance to the general election in an open primary for California's open Senate seat, setting up a tough battle for the state's beleaguered Republicans. .
Mr. Schiff and Mr. Garvey were in two Senate races on Tuesday. One is to fill the remainder of the term of late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, which runs from November to January. The other one is his six-year term starting in January 2025.
Incumbent Sen. LaFonza Butler, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat last fall after Feinstein's death. Shortly afterward, Butler announced she would not seek a full term in her term.
Under California's open primary system, all candidates run on the same ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party. In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans almost 2-to-1, keeping the seat blue in November is a huge advantage.
Mr. Garvey defeated two Democratic women in the House, Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. Barbara Lee, despite collecting some of his opponent's votes and running no television ads. A place to vote in the election was secured.
In the final weeks of the campaign, Schiff and his allies spent millions of dollars on ads attacking Garvey as “too conservative” for California, which they said was meant to boost Republican turnout. strategists said. By February 14, Mr. Garvey had raised just $2.1 million, compared to Mr. Schiff's $31 million, and spent no money on television advertising.
Some progressives argued that by encouraging more Republicans to vote, Schiff's strategy would inadvertently lead to higher Republican turnout in down-ballot races. Mr. Porter called the advertising strategy “brazenly cynical” and accused Mr. Schiff of misrepresenting how conservative Mr. Garvey is. The former baseball player has voted for Donald Trump twice, but remains open to voting for President Joe Biden in 2024.
But Porter also began highlighting another Republican, businessman Eric Early, in digital ads and in the final Senate debate, arguing that he was the true pro-Trump candidate in the race. The move is seen as an effort to divide the Republican vote.
Porter defended the attack on Early, claiming that Schiff was misleading about her record while setting Garvey's record straight.
During the general election, Mr. Schiff is likely to continue emphasizing his profile as one of Mr. Trump's chief opponents in the House, a role that will see him handle the former president's impeachment and various other investigations into Mr. Trump. has been strengthened by the efforts of Republicans passed a resolution last year removing Mr. Schiff from the House Intelligence Committee and censuring him for his role in the investigation of the former president, which Mr. Schiff called a “medal of honor.”
Mr. Garvey will face new pressure to raise money and more clearly articulate the policies he supports. In his primary debates, he often put off his positions on important issues, straddling the line between his support of Trump and distancing himself from the former president.
Mr. Schiff, Mr. Porter and Mr. Lee joined the race early last year, while Mr. Garvey began his campaign in October.
Feinstein, who held the seat for more than 30 years, announced in February last year that she would not seek re-election. She died in September at the age of 90.