California Senate Race: Garvey, Lee, Schiff and Porter face off in Super Tuesday primary
It's Super Tuesday, and voters in states from Maine to California are casting ballots in local races and presidential primaries.
Among the highly anticipated races to watch on Tuesday is California's primary race to fill the state's U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Dianne Feinstein, who held the position for more than 30 years.
California has nearly twice as many registered Democrats than Republicans, but Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey could beat out Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee and Katie Porter to face off Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic frontrunner, in November.
Here is what to know about the race as Californians head to the polls to cast their vote:
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Who is running in California's race for Senate?
The top four candidates in California's Senate primary are:
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff (Los Angeles)
Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee (Oakland)
Democratic Rep. Katie Porter (Orange County)
Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey
The most recent polls show Porter and Garvey in a tight race for second-place behind Schiff.
What is a jungle primary?
California is one of just a few states in the nation to hold what is commonly called a "jungle" primary, where registered voters, regardless of their political party affiliation, can cast their vote for whichever candidate they prefer.
Once votes are tabulated, those with the two highest numbers of votes — also regardless of their party affiliation — advance to the November general election ticket.
The process has received bipartisan criticism as it can lead to a one-party shut out in the general election. Voters may also face additional confusion as there will be two options for the same seat: one to fill the end of Feinstein's term ending Jan. 3, 225, and one for the next six-year term.
Schiff has highlighted Republican opponent in ads
The jungle primary structure has contributed to Schiff's controversial campaign tactic of highlighting Garvey in ads in hopes that the Republican's second place win would lead to an easier race than a faceoff with Porter.
Analysts and pollsters have pointed to Schiff's ads as a reason behind Garvey's surging numbers - as 60% of Schiff's ads mention Garvey, according to an AdImpact analysis. Porter has been heavily critical of the ads, calling them "brazenly cynical" in a February post on X, formerly Twitter.
In such an overwhelmingly blue state, where a Republican has not held statewide office in decades, Garvey stands little chance of defeating Schiff, a longtime representative and former Trump impeachment prosecutor.
California one of 15 states participating in Super Tuesday
The Golden State is one of 15 states welcoming voters to the polls on Super Tuesday. Here are the other states:
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Colorado
Maine
Massachusetts
Minnesota
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
One territory, American Samoa, will also hold a primary election.
Iowa's Democratic Party will also release the results of its mail-in voting on March 5.
Contributing: Ken Tran
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Garvey, Lee, Schiff and Porter vie for US Senate in California primary