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New poll shows dead heat in race for 2nd in California’s Senate primary

Photos of Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee (Getty Images) Photo of Steve Garvey (AP)

Democratic U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff continues to lead in California’s U.S. Senate race, but the race for second is now tied, according to a new California Elections and Policy poll released on Thursday.

The poll, which was conducted from Jan. 21-29, involved more than 1,400 likely voters and has a 2.6% margin of error.


It showed Schiff with the support of 25% of those surveyed, while fellow Democratic Rep. Katie Porter and Republican Steve Garvey each garnered 15%. Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee polled at 7%, and the survey found the rest of the field, including former KTLA reporter Christina Pascucci, was at or near 1% or less.

Twenty-nine percent of likely voters were still undecided.

An Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics poll released in mid-January also showed Schiff at 25%, but Garvey (18%) had surged ahead of Porter (13%).

The top two candidates in the March 5 primary, regardless of party affiliation, will face each other in November’s general election to determine who will succeed the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The poll also found Garvey, a former Major League Baseball star who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, does not appear to be capitalizing on his baseball biography. Garvey’s support among Dodgers fans (16%) closely aligned with his overall support.

Other Poll Results:

The candidates participating in the Feb. 12, 2024 U.S. Senate primary debate on Nexstar Media Group’s California Stations.

L.A.’s Very Own KTLA 5 and its parent company, Nexstar Media Group, will host an exclusive multi-platform debate involving Adam Schiff, Steve Garvey, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee on Feb. 12.

The poll was conducted through the University of Southern California’s Dornsife/Price Center for Urban Politics and Policy, California State University Long Beach and Cal Poly Pomona.