The Inscrutable California Senate Race
By Lou Segal
Most people around the country do not understand how politics is played in California, as evidenced by the many posts you see on social media by conservatives as well as other partisans. In fact, I doubt many voters in California understand how they are being manipulated by power brokers hired by the candidates. The best representation of what I am talking about is the Senate race in California.
The good news is that Steve Garvey, the Republican candidate, according to recent polls has overtaken Adam Schiff, the Democrat, who is heavily favored to win the race. The bad news is this is exactly what Schiff wants.
There are currently three Democrats and two Republicans in the jungle primary race in which the two candidates with the most votes will get to face each other in November. The leading candidate, Adam Schiff, who has outraised all the other candidates by a country mile, is trying to pick his opponent in the runoff for the general election in November.
He knows that in the heavily Democratic state of California it would be far preferable to have a Republican than a Democrat to run against. Consequently, he has given new meaning to the word “Machiavellian” by cynically attempting to manipulate Republican voters to choose Steve Garvey over the other Republican, Eric Early, to accomplish two objectives.
Schiff would like a Republican to finish ahead of the other leading Democrat, Katie Porter;
Schiff wants Republicans to coalesce around Garvey rather than split their vote for the two Republicans, which would allow another Democrat (Porter) to advance to the general election.
If this hasn’t given you a headache so far, allow me to continue. The mailers Schiff is sending Republican households ostensibly criticizes Garvey for voting for Trump twice in 2016 and 2020. However, he knows this will galvanize most Republicans, who support Trump, to vote for Garvey. What is fascinating about this is Garvey has tried to keep his distance from the former president, believing that a close association with Trump in California would hurt his chances.
Interestingly, Early, who has enthusiastically endorsed Trump and is endorsed by the local Republican Party in Santa Barbara, has absolutely no chance of advancing to the runoff. All he can do is act as a spoiler and splinter the Republican vote so Schiff’s opponent in November is Porter.
Schiff, who has raised $38 million to date as opposed to the $2 million by Garvey, is trying to avoid this scenario so has inundated Republican voters with countless mailers and TV ads distorting Garvey’s relationship with Trump. He hopes he can get these voters to choose Garvey to spite the opponents of Trump.
Got it?
Why does this matter? Because the U.S. House of Representatives is closely divided and is up for grabs in 2024. Control will probably be decided by several very close races in which Republican incumbents in California are running for reelection. In almost every one of those races the Republican has kept his/her distance from Trump. Democrats, like Schiff, will make sure this will not happen by painting a Trump bullseye on their backs.
If you think this phenomenon is unique to California, think again. In 2020 and 2022, many Trump-endorsed candidates won their Republican primaries after receiving a ton of money from Democratic political action committees. A fair number of these candidates went on to lose their general election just as predicted by Democratic campaign operatives.
Just because Democrats are so wrong about the issues doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the political game. I hate to say it but they are far more cunning and devious than their Republican brethren. I don’t know what is going to happen next November, but I know that in addition to winning the presidential race, it’s imperative for Republicans to retain the majority in the House and retake the Senate. The question is not only can Trump win, but also will he have coattails to elect Republicans running for Congress and other down-ballot races?
The answer as evidenced by the results of the last three elections is not very comforting.
Lou Segal is a 36-yr resident of Santa Barbara, an avid dog person, and a proud grandfather of two great kids.
What follows is an Election Message from Jim Buckley, Editor-in-Chief, Santa Barbara Current.
My choices in the upcoming 5 March Primary:
Proposition 1 is just another money grab by Democrats (who control everything in the Castle in Sacramento).
NO, NO, NO, NO
Did we advise voting “NO” on Proposition 1?
We did.
Vote NO. Scream and Holler NO!
Don’t bother reading all the idiotic copy they’ve thrown your way to convince you to do otherwise.
JUST VOTE NO ON PROP 1
President of the United States
Donald J. Trump
Why go anywhere else?
He’s our candidate; his record as president in his first term is stellar. We know what he’ll do and where he is going, and we want to go there with him. Don’t give it a second thought.
VOTE DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
U.S. Senate
Steve Garvey
He’s got the guts to declare himself a Republican and makes no apologies, unlike so many California candidates who seem to believe they can hide behind their “independent” label.
He was a great 1st baseman and a good man.
VOTE FOR STEVE GARVEY FOR U.S. SENATE.
United States Representative
We’re voting for Thomas Cole.
You should too.
VOTE FOR THOMAS COLE FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
State Senator
Elijah Mack is young, enthusiastic, and Republican.
VOTE FOR ELIJAH MACK FOR STATE SENATOR
State Assembly
Sari M. Domingues
VOTE FOR SARI M. DOMINGUES FOR STATE ASSEMBLY
1st District Supervisor
Roy Lee
VOTE FOR ROY LEE FOR 1st DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
3rd District Supervisor
Frank T. Troise
VOTE FOR FRANK T. TROISE FOR 3RD DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
4th District Supervisor
Bob Nelson
VOTE FOR BOB NELSON FOR 4th DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
In the past few weeks, we’ve published three Republican Central Committee articles - one describing the two slates, another favorable to the “newcomers” and a third favorable to the incumbents. I’m casting my ballot for the “newcomers,” the list of which can be found by clicking here.
I hope that if voters can show strength in numbers, we’ll go a long way – eventually – towards bringing some semblance of balance – of common sense – to this county and to this state.
SO, VOTE!
Jim Buckley, Editor-in-Chief, Santa Barbara Current
You're saying that Schiff's strategy will lead to a November contest between Schiff and Garvey, and you think this is dirty politics. You also say that if he didn't do this, the November election would instead pit Schiff against Porter. Is that what you want? I'm guessing that you'd just be back here writing an article complaining that Republicans have no option on the ballot. (Lord knows you guys love to complain). You should be happy that Schiff is helping Garvey. It could backfire spectacularly, and it may be the only chance Republicans have to capture this seat.
By the way, I love how you say that Democrats are so "cunning and devious" while implying that Republicans are somehow above board and naive. Have you never heard of Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, Grover Norquist, Mitch McConnell ...?
Congressman Adam SCHIFF, who spent two years [knowingly] and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! [Knowingly] disseminating FALSE information is illegal.
REMEMBER THIS IMPORTANT FACT. ADAM SCHIFF IS PART OF THE 'GANG OF EIGHT' (INTEL)…
LOGICAL Q: IF ADAM SCHIFF 'KNEW' EVERYTHING HE'S INVESTIGATING AND STATING PUBLICLY TO BE KNOWINGLY 'FALSE' [DISINFORMATION] WHY THEN WOULD HE TAKE THE COURSE OF ACTION(S) (ONGOING)?
If [AS] was privy to GANG OF EIGHT classified material would he not know the same FACTS (TRUTH) as NUNES? Think NUNES memo v SCHIFF.
"Knowingly." What if it was coordinated?
Why did [SCHIFF] push false 'Russia evidence' narrative post closed door interviews [no evidence of collusion]?
Why did [SCHIFF] coordinate w/ WH NSC [through proxy] to arrange for Ukraine whistleblower?
Why did [SCHIFF] actively leak knowingly false statements during-post classified sessions to MSM?
Why did [SCHIFF] illegally surveil [phone] members of WH legal team, media, and Congress?
Adam Schiff is a traitor to our Great Nation…