Recent polls indicate that Republicans face an uphill battle in defeating Democratic candidate Adam Schiff in the upcoming Senate elections.
Schiff, a Democratic Representative from California, announced his Senate candidacy in January with hopes of succeeding the late Dianne Feinstein. The Republicans have selected former baseball player Steve Garvey as their contender, setting up a showdown with Schiff.
In California, unlike most states where primaries determine one candidate from each major party, the top two finishers, regardless of party, progress to the general election.
The latest polling data from Real Clear Politics indicates Schiff is leading by a significant margin, with California being a predominantly Democratic state.
In a recent survey by the University of California, Schiff garnered 62% of the support compared to Garvey’s 37%. Schiff’s lead has seen a slight increase since April, while Garvey’s numbers have remained stable.
Prior to the primaries, Schiff was ahead with 53% support compared to Garvey’s 38%, with 9% undecided.
Garvey remains optimistic, stating, “They’re saying we’re about to strike out in the general election. But remember, it ain’t over till it’s over.”
Schiff faced criticism from some Democrats for his super PAC’s heavy spending on ads supporting Garvey, raising concerns about its impact on other Democratic candidates.
It’s clear that the road to victory for Republicans in this race is a challenging one, faced with strong support for Schiff and the Democratic stronghold in California.