Steve Garvey visited Israel, but will it win over California voters in Senate race against Schiff?

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Looking to boost his longshot bid for one of California’s U.S. Senate seats, Republican Steve Garvey traveled to Israel last month searching for room to run against U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff — a Jewish Democrat known for his support of America’s key ally in the Middle East.

It’s common for politicians to make the trek to Israel, a country that’s assumed even more importance on the global stage since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza. It’s also a way for politicians to bolster their foreign policy credentials — especially for first-time candidates like Garvey.

But Garvey’s trip left some political experts puzzled about why the former Major League Baseball star would take on an issue Schiff seemed to have cornered.

“There’s really no space for Garvey to grab from Schiff on the Israel-Hamas war,” said Kim Nalder, a political science professor at California State University, Sacramento. “His only possible vulnerability on the topic is from the left, so Garvey’s attempt will not connect.”

The trip highlights the difficulties facing Garvey — and every other Republican statewide candidate seeking to connect with voters in this deep blue state. Under California rules, Democrats and Republicans appear on the same primary ballot and the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of political party.

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