Adam Schiff, Who Led Trump’s First Impeachment Trial, Elected to Fill Dianne Feinstein’s Former Senate Seat

Schiff defeated former Major League baseball player Steve Garvey in the battle over a seat that Feinstein held for more than 30 years

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during the news conference introducing the Protecting Our Democracy Act in the Capitol on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff has defeated former Major League baseball player Steve Garvey to win the U.S. Senate race in California, according to Associated Press projections.

The victory means Schiff will fill the seat that the late Dianne Feinstein occupied for more than 30 years.

Former EMILY's List President Laphonza Butler has served as a temporary replacement for Feinstein since her death in office last fall, pending a proper election. Upon her appointment Butler expressed that she was not interested in running for a full term.

Schiff, 64, and Garvey, 75, eliminated progressive Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee from the running in March's Senate primary election. California has a blanket primary system, meaning candidates from all parties compete on the same ballot and the top two vote-getters move forward to the general election.

Adam Schiff, Baseball Star Steve Garvey Win California Senate Primary for Dianne Feinstein’s Old Seat
Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey faced off in the 2024 California Senate race.

Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty; David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty

Schiff joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 2001 and most recently chaired the House Intelligence Committee. His campaign received a slew of endorsements from top California leaders — including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former California Sen. Barbara Boxer.

The senator-elect became a household name in 2020 when he led the first impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in connection with his Ukraine scandal.

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Garvey first became a public figure through his career in Major League Baseball, playing first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres between 1969 and 1987.

The Republican disrupted the primary race between three popular Democrats when he joined. His campaign has focused on broad "family issues," including education, public safety and the economy.

When announcing his campaign for Senate in January 2023, Schiff released a video saying, "Today's Republican Party is gutting the middle class. Threatening our democracy. They aren't going to stop. We have to stop them."

Schiff said, "That's why I'm running for the U.S. Senate. The struggle isn't over. Not for me, not for you, not for our country. Together we can and will win this fight."

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