In California, one U.S. Senate seat and all 52 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs this November, along with all 80 state Assembly seats. Additionally, 20 state Senate seats are open for election or reelection. You can learn more about the House and Senate seats and which congressional district you belong to through Cal Matters’ online voter guide.
Every two years the nation votes for all of their U.S. representatives. During the last election for U.S. representatives in the 2022 midterm, Republicans gained the House majority because voters elected more Republican representatives than usual in California and other large states. If fewer Republican representatives are elected in California this year than in 2022, Democrats could regain a majority in the House.
Though U.S. senators run for reelection every six years, Diane Feinstein’s passing in 2023 opened one California seat. After the primary in March, the two candidates for the U.S. Senate seat are Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey. The elected senator would serve alongside Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla. Like the House seats, Republicans and Democrats are vying to gain a majority in the Senate because it will allow them more power to vote for or against federal policies. Since senators will be on all California ballots regardless of voting district, here is a rundown of the Republican and Democratic California candidates for the U.S. Senate.
Adam Schiff
Before entering politics, Adam Schiff had a career in law and worked as an assistant United States attorney. Schiff moved into politics in 1996 when he was elected to California’s state senate at 36, becoming the youngest U.S. state senator at the time. He was later elected in 2000 to the House of Representatives for California’s 30th district. Originally a moderate Democrat, the 64-year-old politician has shifted to more progressive policies, advocating for housing affordability, increasing the federal minimum wage and providing citizenship opportunities for undocumented immigrants. He is supported by nine statewide unions and endorsed by former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as well as former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, among others. Schiff has raised $38.7 million so far in his campaign.
Supports
- Boosting the production of renewable energy sources
- Letting the government negotiate prices of all prescription drugs
- Banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines
- Creating pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
- Pausing fighting in Gaza to allow for humanitarian aid but not a permanent ceasefire
Steve Garvey
The 75-year-old Republican candidate for California’s Senate seat, Steve Garvey, is currently trailing behind Adam Schiff in the polls by 25 percentage points. Garvey is originally from Florida and gained fame playing professional baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. After his athletic career, Garvey experienced a series of lawsuits, financial struggles and scandals in the 1990s and early 2000s. Garvey has not held a position in political office but has gotten involved in politics nonetheless. He helped fundraise for former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. He advocates for strengthening the border, reducing inflation, combatting homelessness, reforming the criminal justice system and lowering the price of housing, among other issues. The San Diego Police Officers Association endorses Garvey, and his campaign has raised $10.9 million.
Supports
- Increasing funding for border security
- Reducing inflation by opposing new federal spending
- Lowering corporate taxes to stop businesses from leaving California
- Ending the Gaza war swiftly but believes in Israel’s right to defend itself
- Increasing infrastructure for clean energy and investing into solutions for climate change
