Did Steve Garvey Win in California? What Really Happened

If you’re looking for a quick "yes" or "no" on whether Steve Garvey pulled off a political miracle in the Golden State, here is the short version: Steve Garvey did not win his bid for the U.S. Senate in California.

On November 5, 2024, the former Los Angeles Dodgers legend faced off against Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff. It wasn't particularly close. Schiff cruised to a victory with roughly 59% of the vote, while Garvey pulled in about 41%. While that might sound like a blowout (and in many ways, it was), the story behind the numbers is actually way more interesting than the final score suggests.

Honestly, nobody expected a Republican to win a statewide race in California in 2024. The state hasn't elected a Republican to a statewide office since 2006. That's nearly two decades of "Blue" dominance. So, when people ask did Steve Garvey win in California, they’re often really asking if he even had a chance or if his campaign was just a vanity project.

The Strategy That Put Garvey on the Ballot

You've got to understand how California’s "top-two" primary system works to get why Garvey was even in the general election. In March 2024, everyone—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—all ran on the same ballot. The top two finishers, regardless of their party, move on to November.

Adam Schiff actually wanted to run against Steve Garvey.

Why? Because in a deep-blue state like California, running against a Republican is basically a guaranteed win for a Democrat. If Schiff had faced another Democrat, like Katie Porter or Barbara Lee, he would have had to spend millions of dollars fighting a much tougher, more expensive battle for the same pool of voters. Instead, Schiff’s campaign spent a fortune on ads "attacking" Garvey as being "too conservative for California."

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It was a brilliant, if cynical, move. By attacking Garvey, Schiff actually boosted Garvey's name recognition among Republican voters who were looking for a candidate to rally behind. It worked like a charm. Garvey surged in the primary, knocked out the other Democrats, and secured his spot on the November ballot.

By the Numbers: The General Election Results

• Adam Schiff (D): ~9,036,252 votes (58.9%)
• Steve Garvey (R): ~6,312,594 votes (41.1%)

Why Garvey’s "Loss" Was Actually a Record-Breaker

Despite losing, Garvey did something pretty remarkable. He received over 6.3 million votes. That is the highest number of votes ever received by a Republican candidate in California history (outside of a presidential race).

He even managed to win Orange County, a former GOP stronghold that had been trending toward Democrats in recent years. Garvey also flipped San Joaquin, Imperial, and Lake counties compared to previous GOP performances. For a guy who hadn't held political office before, he tapped into a specific kind of frustration among Californians who felt the state was heading in the wrong direction regarding homelessness, crime, and the cost of living.

Garvey’s campaign was sort of low-key. He didn't have the massive war chest Schiff had. Schiff raised nearly $48 million, while Garvey managed about $20 million. He relied heavily on his "all-American" baseball image and a message of "common sense." During his concession speech at a casino in Rancho Mirage, he kept the baseball metaphors flying, congratulating Schiff with the grace of a player visiting the opponent’s clubhouse after a tough World Series loss.

What Most People Get Wrong About the Race

There’s this idea that Garvey was just a "MAGA" candidate, but he actually tried to walk a very fine line. He voted for Donald Trump twice, but during the campaign, he often dodged questions about the former president, trying to position himself as a "consensus-builder."

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This kinda backfired.

Hardcore Trump supporters felt he wasn't "pro-Trump" enough, while Democrats used his past votes for Trump to paint him as an extremist. In the end, California is just too Democrat-heavy for that middle-of-the-road approach to work. Schiff successfully framed the race as a choice between a seasoned legislator and a "MAGA mini-me," even though Garvey tried hard to distance himself from that label.

The Two-Race Confusion

Wait, why were there two different Senate races on the same ballot? This is where a lot of people got confused. Because Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away before her term was up, there were actually two separate votes:

1. The Special Election: To fill the remaining few weeks of Feinstein’s term (ending in January 2025).
2. The Regular Election: For the full six-year term starting in January 2025.

Did Steve Garvey win in California for either of these? No. He lost both. Schiff won both the short-term seat and the full six-year term, ensuring he’d have seniority over other incoming freshman senators.

Moving Forward: What This Means for California

Even though he lost, Garvey’s performance showed that a Republican can still compete in California if they have high name recognition and stay focused on quality-of-life issues. His 41% was the best performance for a Republican in a California Senate race since 1994.

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For the GOP, the lesson is basically that there is a floor of about 6 million voters in California who are desperate for an alternative. For Democrats, Schiff’s victory solidifies his position as a major power player in Washington.

If you're following California politics, keep an eye on these actionable takeaways:

• Watch the "Top-Two" Dynamics: Future candidates will likely copy Schiff’s strategy of "elevating" an opponent from the opposite party to secure an easier general election.
• Focus on Central Valley and Inland Empire: Garvey’s strength in these areas shows where the political divide in California is the sharpest.
• Registration Matters: For a Republican to actually win, they don't just need a "star" candidate; they need a massive shift in voter registration, which currently favors Democrats by nearly 2-to-1.

The 2024 race proved that while Steve Garvey couldn't hit a home run in politics like he did on the field, he at least managed to get a lot of people back into the stadium.

Next Steps for Readers
To stay informed on how Adam Schiff’s new term affects your local taxes or federal representation, check the official California Secretary of State website for final certified precinct-level data. You can also track Schiff's legislative record on Congress.gov to see if he follows through on his campaign promises regarding housing and the economy.