Former baseball star Steve Garvey announced Tuesday that he will run for the late Dianne Feinstein’s U.S. Senate seat as a Republican.
Garvey, 74, won a World Series in 1981 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played with the team for fourteen years. He also played with the San Diego Padres for five years. He was even awarded National League MVP during his time in the MLB. Garvey has been debating a run for politics and is now actually throwing his hat into the ring.
“A Giants fan came up to me and said, ‘Garvey, I hate the Dodgers, but I’ll vote for you,’” Garvey told The Los Angeles Times.
“In those 20 years that I played for the Dodgers and the Padres, played up in cold Candlestick Park, I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents,” Garvey said. “I played for all the fans, and I’m running for all the people.”
Former Los Angeles Dodgers Steve Garvey and Eric Karros walk to make the ceremonial first pitch before game five of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
In an interview with Fox News, he said he sees himself as a concerned citizen who wants to change the dynamic of Washington D.C. (RELATED: Gavin Newsom Chooses Replacement For Sen. Dianne Feinstein)
“I like to think of myself as a concerned citizen. I started seeing a severe dysfunction in Washington. Career politicians were focusing on the business of politics and not the people,” he told the outlet. “And I decided if there isn’t a voice in California, then I should take a few months and see if there’s a pathway for Steve Garvey to run for the U.S. Senate.”
“I think the quality of life is stagnant in California,” Garvey continued. “I think the economy with inflation has caused families to rethink how they live their daily lives, how they take care of their children. Can they save for the future? Can they afford better housing? Young couples in California can’t afford maybe the greatest single investment of their lives, and that’s a home, because of high interest rates and mortgages. I think inflation is causing tremendous stress on families.”
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler to fill Feinstein’s seat. (RELATED: Did Gavin Newsom’s Senate Appointment Just Crush Adam Schiff’s 2024 Dreams?)
Democratic California Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee will likely be running for the competitive seat.