In an unexpected turn of events, former baseball star Steve Garvey, a Republican candidate, has emerged as a significant contender in California's Senate race, throwing a wrench into the plans of three prominent Democrats. According to the latest Morning Consult/Politico survey among likely primary voters, Garvey received 19% support, placing him in second position, just behind Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who secured 28% support.

The poll results indicate that Garvey is now ahead of Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, who garnered 17% and 14% support, respectively. If Garvey manages to secure second place in the open primary on March 5, he could potentially eliminate Porter and Lee from the race, allowing Schiff to face off against him in the general election.

Given that California is predominantly a blue state and with President Joe Biden leading the ticket in 2024, Schiff's victory in the general election is widely expected. However, if Garvey manages to secure second place in the primary, Schiff would avoid a head-to-head matchup with another Democrat.

While Schiff, Porter, and Lee have been actively campaigning for the Senate seat for the majority of the year, Garvey only joined the race in early October. Most polls have consistently shown Schiff leading by several points, as reported by RealClearPolitics' survey compilation.

Although Garvey has not disclosed his fundraising totals, the Democratic candidates have already collected significant sums for their campaigns, as reported by the Federal Election Commission filings. Porter and Schiff have amassed $22.1 million and $21.5 million, respectively, while Lee has brought in $3.4 million.

Garvey aims to run a "common sense" campaign, appealing to a broader spectrum of voters in the deep blue state, while the Democratic candidates largely cater to the left-wing sector of their party.

The candidates are vying for the Senate seat previously held by the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, currently occupied by Gov. Gavin Newsom's appointee, Laphonza Butler, who has decided not to run for a full term in 2024. However, if Butler, the former president of pro-abortion group EMILY's List, were to enter the race, she could pose a serious threat to Schiff's campaign due to her extensive political network, fundraising capabilities, and the advantage of incumbency.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to the campaigns of Garvey, Schiff, Porter, and Lee for their comments but did not receive an immediate response.

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