... just concluded.

Former Dodger Steve Garvey is probably the weakest candidate the GOP has fielded in the state in a while. He hemmed, hawed, claimed he hadn't made up his mind about a bevy of issues (including abortion) and didn't know if he'd be supporting Trump after voting for him twice. The others got in wisecracks about him being an "issue Dodger."

I think Katie Whiteboard Porter is at the end of her political career. She's great in Congressional hearings, not so much when talking about the issues in a debate. Her frau superpower was off the charts, from her wash-and-go hair to her Dress Barn outfit and Roseanne voice.

Barbara Lee smartly defined herself as friend to the minorities in California (including "LGBTQ+"). But she represents Oakland, which even Democrats have to admit is a disastrously run city, and she wasn't able to tick off any accomplishments Oakland-related.

Which leaves Adam Schiff. His power comes from years of cable news hits slamming Trump (which most Californians love), and he kept emphasizing that he was taught not to run away from a bully, but to confront one, because a bully is a coward.

I think it'll be Schiff vs. Garvey, but who knows.

by Anonymous

reply 40

January 26, 2024 7:45 PM

Schiff vs. Porter. California has a jungle primary, and Republican candidates can't even crack the top two anymore.

by Anonymous

reply 1

January 23, 2024 2:53 AM

Lee’s district includes Oakland, she’s not responsible for running the city. Jesus—learn something.

by Anonymous

reply 2

January 23, 2024 3:06 AM

R1 with three Ds and Steve Garvey, on paper the math leaves plenty of room for an R to finish second. The question: is Garvey that R?

It won’t matter in the run-off—that’s a safe bet.

by Anonymous

reply 3

January 23, 2024 3:08 AM

[quote]Lee’s district includes Oakland, she’s not responsible for running the city. Jesus—learn something.

Of course she's not. But the idea that this crime-ridden city was part of the district that voted for her carries weight with some voters (many of them racist, of course).

by Anonymous

reply 4

January 23, 2024 3:08 AM

[quote] [R1] with three Ds and Steve Garvey, on paper the math leaves plenty of room for an R to finish second. The question: is Garvey that R?

The Rs have been receiving increasingly diminishing returns in statewide races. I don't see an R advancing beyond Schiff/Porter.

by Anonymous

reply 6

January 23, 2024 3:17 AM

I think I might be carrying Steve Garvey’s baby.

by Anonymous

reply 8

January 23, 2024 3:18 AM

R4. Yes, of course. That’s why the homeless crisis in Hollywood and the NE Valley are killing Schiff’s chances.

by Anonymous

reply 9

January 23, 2024 3:26 AM

Californian. My preference, in this order: Lee, Schiff, Porter.

Barbara Lee's sole vote in Congress against Bush and the Authorized Use of Military Force in the aftermath of 9/11 has aged very well. That took real courage and showed her strength as a leader and legislator. Of course, Schiff deserves recognition for his role as a Trump impeachment manager. Both Lee and Schiff also represent safe House districts that are likely to elect Democrats should one of them win the Senate seat.

As for Porter: I like her in House hearings. I love when she tears bullshit-peddling witnesses apart with her white board-illustrated arguments. But she has also leaned into her talents in a way that is performative; for example, this sad moment during the recent House speaker shenanigans. Yes, the Republicans are a mess -- but this was childish and said (to me) that she wasn't taking the situation all that seriously. She also represents Orange County, much more of a crap shoot that a Republican could get her House seat.

Steve Garvey has zero relevant background, zero legislative experience, and has no business running a statewide race to represent 39 million Californians as a US Senator. He's coasting on (fading) name recognition and straight white male privilege to even be in this race. His lack of experience showed tonight. Ranked choice voting in California is going to bitch slap him to last place in this primary, as he deserves.

All this being said: I predict the general election in this race will be between Schiff and Porter, with Schiff ultimately winning the seat.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 10

January 23, 2024 3:28 AM

It’s not ranked choice voting. It’s a jungle primary. They are not the same thing.

by Anonymous

reply 11

January 23, 2024 3:29 AM

Barbara Lee has her age going against her, and yes, that is a factor voters might consider considering the recent Feinstein debacle.

by Anonymous

reply 13

January 23, 2024 3:31 AM

R14, yes. No more to that. California has plenty of qualified up-and-coming politicians. We don't need to deep into the octogenarians and nonagenarians

by Anonymous

reply 15

January 23, 2024 3:42 AM

California republicans can’t elect one of their own under this system of voting, but they have the numbers to help elect the more conservative-leaning Democrat.

by Anonymous

reply 16

January 23, 2024 3:50 AM

[quote]He once sent one of his daughters a birthday card, Cyndy Garvey observes, that read, "Happy Birthday. Best wishes from Steve Garvey."

Love you too, Dad!

by Anonymous

reply 17

January 23, 2024 3:53 AM

Republicans are basically eunuchs within California.

by Anonymous

reply 18

January 23, 2024 3:53 AM

^But this voting system does give them more sway than, say, a West Virginia democrat.

by Anonymous

reply 19

January 23, 2024 3:56 AM

R19, but since the jungle primary has been introduced in CA, have many [R] politicians even advanced to the Senate and Governor races? I could be wrong, but it seems that this was implemented to ice the Republicans out (which I'm 100% on board with).

by Anonymous

reply 20

January 23, 2024 4:01 AM

*since this was implemented^^

by Anonymous

reply 21

January 23, 2024 4:03 AM

But, R20, to my previous point, they could conceivably have the numbers to elect the more conservative-seeming Democrat. In this case, that could spell trouble for Porter.

by Anonymous

reply 22

January 23, 2024 4:07 AM

Thanks for the recap, OP! I'm a longtime Californian who, unfortunately, is now a Floridian. Age aside, Lee would be my first choice. She's the most progressive and surely California, a state that will always have Democratic senators moving forward, can "afford" to elect the most progressive candidate. (But, I agree with the consensus that it's likely Schiff's to lose.)

by Anonymous

reply 23

January 23, 2024 4:43 AM

R14, California voters (of which I am one) have no one to blame but themselves for electing Feinstein into her '90s. She was up against a man in his political prime fifties.

by Anonymous

reply 24

January 23, 2024 4:44 AM

R25, Garvey has exactly 0% chance of becoming governor of California.

by Anonymous

reply 26

January 23, 2024 5:38 AM

He's not running for Governor. He's running for Diane Feinstein's vacant Senate seat.

by Anonymous

reply 27

January 23, 2024 5:50 AM

Doh, yes, senator! But in terms of statewide seats available for Republicans, what viable options actually exist for them? Certainly not governor or senator!

by Anonymous

reply 28

January 23, 2024 5:54 AM

R28, there was, not too long ago, a republican, an Asian man, who held one of the statewide offices. Maybe a Californian can help me out with his name & the office he held.

by Anonymous

reply 29

January 23, 2024 12:19 PM

So what? That was a different century R29, not to mention an entirely different political universe. No relevance to CA party politics as it has evolved over the past 30 years. Sam was a one-termer in the 70s.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 30

January 23, 2024 12:27 PM

I didn't know Steve Garvey was a Republican. Shame, he was so fucking hot back in the day.

by Anonymous

reply 31

January 23, 2024 12:48 PM

Ha, R30, I'm not talking about Hayakawa from 50 years ago. This (young) guy served in the '10s.

by Anonymous

reply 32

January 23, 2024 2:48 PM

My memory is playing tricks on me. I was thinking of Romney advisor Lanhee Chen, who, in fact, lost the ‘22 race for State Controller but ended up doing much better than any non-Schwarzenegger Republican in a state race in a long time.

by Anonymous

reply 33

January 23, 2024 3:04 PM

I wonder if Stevie still has that big juicy butt?

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by Anonymous

reply 34

January 23, 2024 3:55 PM

Just so people don't think I'm picking on Barbara Lee's (who I actually like) age.

Democrats dodged a bullet with Feinstein being from California. Were she another old politician from a [purple] state, we would've been screwed thanks to her selfishness.

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by Anonymous

reply 35

January 26, 2024 5:25 AM

No way should we be voting in a first-time Senator at that age.

Sorry. No.

Stop the nonsense.

by Anonymous

reply 36

January 26, 2024 9:54 AM

All those movie stars and this is the best you can come up with?

by Anonymous

reply 37

January 26, 2024 10:13 AM

[quote]All those movie stars and this is the best you can come up with?

We already did Reagan, Schwarzenegger and George Murphy.

by Anonymous

reply 39

January 26, 2024 7:45 PM

I'm writing in George Santos.

by Anonymous

reply 40

January 26, 2024 7:45 PM