Schiff supporters air ads focused on GOP rival Steve Garvey in California Senate race

Rep. Katie Porter and former baseball player Steve Garvey take part in a Jan. 22 televised debate for candidates in the race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Supporters of Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff’s Senate bid plan to spend millions of dollars before the March 5 California primary airing television ads focused solely on Republican candidate Steve Garvey. The ads may help Garvey, a former Dodgers All-Star first baseman, attract enough support among California Republicans to edge out Schiff’s top Democratic rival in the primary, Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine, setting up an easier path for the congressman from Burbank to win in the November general election. On Friday, a pro-Schiff independent expenditure committee funded by wealthy individuals, labor unions and Native American tribes, which can accept unlimited donations but cannot coordinate with the candidate’s campaign, launched a 30-second ad that criticizes Garvey as “too conservative for California.” The ad notes that he voted for Trump twice, could tilt the balance of the Senate and would “advance Trump’s MAGA agenda.” “This is about holding Steve Garvey accountable for voting twice for Trump and his MAGA agenda,” said Kyle Layman, executive director of the Standing Strong PAC, which is funding the ad on television statewide. GOP Assemblyman Joe Patterson, who lives in the pro-Trump city of Rocklin in Placer County, said he has received mailers at his home — and Facebook ads on his feed — from Schiff’s campaign that highlight “the leading Republican candidate — Steve Garvey.” The materials note Garvey’s support for Trump and say the candidate “is too conservative for California.” Patterson, noting that he’s undecided in the race, said the tactic was smart.