- The Washington Times - Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Baseball legend Steve Garvey is now playing on a different field, announcing Tuesday he’s running for the U.S. Senate in California.

“Our campaign is focused on quality-of-life issues, public safety and education,” Mr. Garvey said in a release. “As a U.S. senator, I will serve with common sense, compassion, and will work to build consensus to benefit all of the people in California.”

Mr. Garvey, 74, joins the race for a seat open after the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein last month. Running as a Republican, he’s aiming to be the party’s first California senator since 1992.

His campaign was launched with a video that detailed his career as a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1987. He was the National League MVP in 1974.

“I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents. I played for all of you,” he said in the video. “It’s going to be a common sense campaign.”

Among Republicans, he’s up against Coast Guard veteran James Bradley, nonprofit executive Sarah Sun Liew and a few others.

On the Democratic side, Reps. Katie Porter, Adam B. Schiff and Barbara Lee are competing for the nomination. Sen. Laphonza Butler, who replaced Feinstein, has yet to announce if she will run.

In California, the two candidates with the most votes in the primary advance to the general election regardless of their party. For the state’s last two Senate races, only Democrats were on the November ballot because Republicans didn’t garner enough support.

Mr. Garvey has called for a temporary closing of the border with Mexico and doesn’t support a nationwide abortion ban.

In his video, he said California “at one time was the heartbeat of America,” but now “it’s just a murmur.”

“In baseball, it’s not about the individual; it’s about the team,” he said in the release. “I believe the same holds true for politics. It’s time we come together, find common ground and work toward a brighter future.”

The primary in California is March 5, with the general election on Nov. 5, 2024.

• This article includes information from wire service reports.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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