Former Dodgers great Steve Garvey launches California Senate campaign

Former baseball great Steve Garvey on Tuesday announced he’s running for the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s U.S. Senate seat. 

“I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents. I played for all of you,” Garvey said in a video launching his campaign. “Now I’m running for U.S. Senate in California, a state that I believe at one time was the heartbeat of America, and now is just a murmur.”

Garvey’s voice-over plays atop footage of his All-Star baseball career as first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. “It’s time to get off the bench. It’s time to put the uniform on. It’s time to get back in the game,” the video concludes. 

Garvey’s entry as a Republican candidate into the closely watched Senate race adds to the crowded field of candidates already vying for the seat long held by Democrats. 

California Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee have all announced bids for the open post, gunning for the seat as Feinstein had said in the months preceding her passing that she wouldn’t try for reelection. 

The seat is currently held by Sen. Laphonza Butler (D), a former adviser to Vice President Harris and president of EMILY’s List, who was named by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to fill the vacancy left by Feinstein’s passing. 

Newsom opted not to appoint any of the Democrats currently running for the Golden State’s Senate seat, saying he wouldn’t get involved in the primary battle. It’s not clear whether Butler will launch her own 2024 bid. 

“I have a new Republican opponent — Steve Garvey. Before he was a multi-millionaire Republican celebrity, he was a first baseman. Based on his announcement, it sounds like he’s ready to take up the fight for everyone born on third base — thinking they hit a triple. Go figure,” Schiff said. 

Garvey told The Associated Press in an interview that he voted in the past for former President Trump, but he hadn’t decided on who he’ll support for the White House in 2024. 

“I’m running the Steve Garvey campaign,” he said.