California has its share of celebrity politicians, and baseball star Steve Garvey is the latest. He’s running on a Republican ticket against Adam Schiff, and early polling puts Garvey in the lead. Let’s delve into what makes the baseball star so popular and see if he even has a chance to win here.
Slightly In The Lead
The University of California Berkeley did the most recent polls, and the numbers show a different picture than what most would think is happening in the election race.
Garvey holds a 27% majority over Schiff’s 25% in their seat. Other Democrats, such as Barbara Lee and Katir Porter, are trailing even further behind.
Looking At a Different Approach
California has historically been a Democrat state, and they control the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general. However, Garvey’s lead suggests things may not be alright.
The state has been facing severe problems with its budget deficit, and the solutions introduced to relieve the pressure seem to be setting California up for failure in the long run.
Focusing On Small Business and Economic Challenges
Garvey’s rhetoric sees him talking about encouraging small businesses and trying to help them grow. This is a welcome change to California’s hostility towards small businesses.
Additionally, Garvey says that he wants to understand the economic hardships faced by average Californians. He states that he can solve the problems if he gets the state’s “heartbeat” from its citizens.
A Conservative Beacon in California?
When asked what made him decide to run, he said it was because he didn’t have anyone he could vote for. Looking at the options given to him, he didn’t see anyone who aligned with his values.
He mentioned that California has become strongly liberal but thinks the state needs more conservative voices. He saw this as his pathway to run for the US Senate and represent his state.
Using His Team Building Skills
Garvey started his campaign by talking to people and listening to their problems in the north, coastal regions, and now down south, understanding what they felt was necessary.
He says he spent most of his life building teams and bringing people with passion together so they could make a difference. If elected to the US Senate, he intends to do the same.
Many Unhappy With the Economic Situation
Californians have told Garvey that they’re unhappy with how the state’s economy has been run. Even if they’re managing their finances well, they could be out of money before the end of the month.
Garvey says all of these are due to inflation and highlights that many of the people in government don’t know what the average Californian goes through. He intends to fix that.
A Return to Free Market Capitalism
How does Garvey hope to repair the problem of runaway inflation? One of the first things on his agenda is a return to free-market capitalism, targeting small businesses.
He mentions that many people who once wanted to start small businesses have fled California because the business environment is hostile, making it uneconomical.
Not The Strong Presence It Once Was
Garvey condemns his opponents as representing only half the state and neglecting all the people who don’t live in the big cities. He says that shortsightedness is why California has declined.
He remembers a time when California was America’s heartbeat. Now, Garvey contends, his opponents have turned California’s heartbeat into a murmur by representing only half the state’s citizens.
A Mass Exodus From The State
Since 2021, people have been leaving California in droves, trying to go anywhere else with a lower cost of living and affordable housing. California’s woes seem to be getting worse.
Lawmakers in the state have implemented a wealth tax, seeking to use California’s wealthiest citizens to fund the state’s debt. The state’s also implementing an exit tax to ensure they can’t run.
Small Businesses Also Leaving
California’s small business taxes are so ridiculous that many people who once ran businesses there simply shut down and moved. Running a business as an individual doesn’t seem viable anymore.
Freelancers have also abandoned the state as it forces employers to pay a tax for hiring freelancers from there. The increased rates make them unable to compete in a global market.
Free Market Capitalism Is A Possible Solution
Garvey’s approach is attractive to many people who would like to run their own small businesses in California. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of legislation to work through.
Capitalism could help with things like a more balanced housing market, better rents, and greater competition in the real estate market, which the state desperately needs.
The Debt Won’t Go Away
Despite the positives, Garvey will have to deal with the massive deficit debt that his Democrat predecessors will leave behind if he does manage to win the seat.
Garvey’s place at the top means that he will be running against Schiff for the primaries. Schiff’s campaign supported Garvey to ensure that there wouldn’t be a Democrat opponent.
Baseball Politics in Real Politics
Unfortunately, Garvey’s ex-teammates don’t seem to want to see him run for the US Senate. Many of them declined to endorse him, but fans of other baseball teams didn’t have such a problem.
Garvey himself said the thing that cemented his choice to run was a San Francisco Giants fan coming up to him and telling him he’d vote for him. Republicans haven’t won a seat in California since 1988.
Will Garvey Win?
The race is close, and Garvey’s place in the lead might just be temporary. Without the support from the Schiff camp to help him gain traction, he’s all on his own now. He has some support, but there’s still a long way to go.
Schiff had his own trouble leading up to the primaries. It emerged that he’s been claiming two primary residences, one in Maryland and one in California, for tax purposes. The current score between the two sets up a close race in California.
