Steve Garvey Ramps Up Campaign in Final Month Before Election
‘Garvey’s strategy right now is good’
By Evan Symon, October 2, 2024 1:09 pm
October is proving to be a busy month for former baseball star and current Senate candidate Steve Garvey, as he branches out across the state with new visits, campaign stops, and fundraising events.
For Garvey, he has stayed mostly in Southern California for the duration of his campaign, focusing efforts on the Central Valley, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County. All of these areas are either Republican strongholds, battleground regions of the state, or places where Garvey has deep connections and draws support from, despite leaning more on the Democratic side. That being said, he has made several high profile jaunts outside the area. During the primary, he made stops at the Salton Sea and U.S.-Mexico Border, as well as travelling up to San Francisco for the second Senate debate where he shocked many political observers by beating Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA).
Post-Primary, Garvey has remained mostly in Southern California. For months he ran a pretty quiet campaign. He did venture out at times, giving interviews in places like Bakersfield, or hosting fundraisers elsewhere. His biggest even was travelling outside of the U.S. to Israel, showing support for the country while also brushing up on foreign experience in the leadup to the heavier political season ahead… not to mention higher profile events, like those with fellow former Dodgers and Padres players, across SoCal. And now, with October coming in and the end of the legislative session and Governor signing period in Sacramento, Garvey has finally begun to go all out.
Garvey in North State
While much of October for Garvey isn’t known, he does have significant funds in the tank, thanks in part to a surprising Q2 2024 fundraising period where he brought in more than Schiff. Late last month he made ventures going up North and spread across the state, including giving interviews in Fresno, Sacramento and San Diego, and going to more festivals and events, including some in Inglewood. This week he made his first anticipated visit to the North State, having a fundraiser at the Matson Vineyards on Tuesday in Redding and a fundraiser breakfast in Anderson on Wednesday.
For the rest of the month, with campaign season now in full-swing, more can be expected of Garvey as well as Schiff, who has made sporadic visits to California in the past several months because of Congressional duties. This includes two possible debates between the two. And, with a GOP victory in the Senate in California unlikely, a strong Garvey finish over 40% can still rattle Democrats in California. Polls currently show Garvey in the mid 30’s percentage-wise in support, but with enough undecided voters out there to potentially hit the 40% mark and above. And for many observers, that’s what makes this final month of in-person visits across the state so crucial – drawing up support for a strong finish. Especially in areas that Schiff hasn’t bothered to visit.
“Statistically, Garvey isn’t going to win,” said Stephanie Lewis, a pollster in Southern California, to the Globe on Wednesday. “But, to use some baseball analogies, he is like the team that is out of playoff contention but is still playing teams that could make it. He needs to win these final games, have a strong showing, and then help spoil the night for those going on. Garvey hitting above 40%, like you said, would send a strong message to Schiff and Democrats.
“And Garvey’s strategy right now is good. He didn’t have all the money in the world, so travelling was used sparingly until around September. And now, with business in Sacramento wrapped up, the news cycle is more open for political news. So him doing more and more interviews and events and fundraisers in the last few months made sense. Go all in on October and the last few days in November. Go to these places candidates don’t always visit, show his face, and do as much of that before election day and before mail-in ballots start to go out.
“A good sign that it is working is if Schiff suddenly has some last minute events come up earlier this month that were not planned. Garvey may not have the votes to win because of how blue the state is, but he could get enough votes to embarrass him and make him mad for having to do more campaign work than he had planned for and use some of the money he had in his war chest. Garvey can really end strong still, and him going out geographically in the final month is a good strategy.”
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So this article is about Garvey going for a “moral victory” at 40%? Moral victories don’t count in baseball OR politics. A loss is a loss, regardless of the margin.
So if I understand his strategy, he did not give it his all!
I do not respect that approach. If he had that attitude during his career, he would have been traded. Too bad the CA GOP can’t make a trade!
Why did he even run? Was it a bucket list item?
I still have no idea what Garvey stands for!
A career politician such as shifty Schiff is what is wrong with American Politics.
It all is just so dirty and corrupt. Meanwhile, more chaos down at our Southern border and Schiff pretends there is no problem.
We need to get rid of the jungle primary, it sets up this very situation and guarantees a Democrat supermajority, each and every election cycle!
I agree, One Fed Up Cali Girl. The Garvey campaign strategy makes no sense to me. Why run if not in it to win it? Imo, the CAGOP and Jessica Millan Patterson is totally backing this losing strategy. It is now looking more likely that the election will be a landslide victory for Trump/Vance. That means that down ballot candidates endorsed by Trump will get a big boost…….Oh, but Garvey has not requested an endorsement from Mr. Trump? If he is serious about WINNING, Garvey needs to ask for an endorsement NOW before it’s too late.
This is very disappointing and it’s probably just an end of life bucket list item for him at age 75 and he doesn’t really want to be in political office?
It’s reminiscent of when Larry Elder when he ran for governor? He got into the race late, he ran a lackluster campaign, and then he conceded early on election night despite blatant instances of Democrat voter fraud. Sigh.
Yes, TJ. Garvey is no JD Vance that’s for sure.
I understand the Republican strongholds, but this is a big state with small towns like Hollister, yes, there’s Republicans here too who would like to be represented. There’s a multitude of Hispanics I know who are voting Republican. Then you wonder why people, who like me, born and raised 71 years, wants to move out of Commie California, No Representationby the right!!