(TheIndependentStar.com) – In a surprise move, Major League Baseball legend Steve Garvey has announced he’s running as a Republican for the US Senate in California in an effort to flip the seat of Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who passed away recently.
90-year-old Feinstein died last month after serving in the US Senate for 33 years. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom (D) appointed pro-abortion activist Laphonza Butler to serve the rest of her term.
A legendary player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres from the 1970s and 1980s, Steve Garvey announced his senatorial bid in a campaign video released on YouTube on Tuesday.
“Our campaign is focused on quality-of-life issues, public safety and education,” 74-year-old Garvey said in a statement.
“As a US senator, I will serve with common sense, compassion, and will work to build consensus to benefit all of the people in California,” he added.
His first campaign video stressed the best moments from his professional baseball career from 1969 to 1987, The Washington Times observes in a report.
It notes Garvey won the National League MVP title in 1974.
“I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents. I played for all of you. It’s going to be a common sense campaign,” he declares in the campaign ad.
Garvey calls for a temporary shutdown of the Southern Border over the illegal immigrant invasion but is against a nationwide abortion ban.
In his video, he points out that California “at one time was the heartbeat of America,” but has turned into “just a murmur.”
“In baseball, it’s not about the individual; it’s about the team. I believe the same holds true for politics. It’s time we come together, find common ground and work toward a brighter future,” he declares in his release.
In the GOP senatorial primary in California, Garvey will face Coast Guard veteran James Bradley and nonprofit executive Sarah Sun Liew, among others.
Meanwhile, three current US House members – Reps. Katie Porter, Adam B. Schiff and Barbara Lee – are vying to win the Democrat primary and Feinstein’s former seat. It is yet unknown if the newly appointed Laphonza Butlet will also join the Democrat race to try to keep the seat in the 2024 election.
