Steve Garvey cites his experience to challenge Schiff’s grasp on California workers’ needs

Steve Garvey, the former baseball star-turned-Republican pitchman taking on Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) in November’s California Senate race, pointed to his celebrity status and SAG-AFTRA card to show how in sync he is with everyday workers.

“As a proud former member of the Major League Baseball Players Association and SAG-AFTRA, I understand the importance of fair treatment and advocacy for workers,” Garvey said in a statement after Schiff visited an ironworks training center in La Palma with union workers.

“My policy priorities include fostering economic growth, reducing the cost of living, and creating a business environment where both small businesses and labor can thrive together. We need to protect our working families and provide them with the tools they need to succeed, rather than burden them with excessive regulations and taxes that stifle job creation and economic opportunity,” he added.

Garvey has been slammed by local media for spending more time away from the state than campaigning inside it.

Garvey, a former infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, and Shiff pushed their way through a crowded Senate primary field in March to secure spots in the general election. They are running for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat.

Garvey’s win in the jungle primary helped avoid a costly slugfest between Schiff and Democratic rival Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) that would have tested intraparty loyalties and drained resources that could be better spent on vulnerable Democrats in toss-up races.

In a Public Policy Institute of California poll of likely voters released earlier this month, Schiff was ahead of Garvey by 25 points.

Garvey was most recently seen in Washington, D.C., where he attended the Congressional Baseball Game and provided pointers to Republican lawmakers.

Schiff, who is relying on strong union support to win the race against Garvey, gave his opponent a backhanded compliment.

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“He was a great baseball player,” Schiff told ABC7.  “I take nothing away from his performance as a baseball player. It’s not the same skills. He’s probably a good person to go to if you want information about the designated hitter rule, but if you want to know how do we build things in California, how do we get things done, how do we address public safety challenges — he doesn’t have any idea.”

The Washington Examiner did not receive a response to Garvey’s campaign for comment.