Former Dodger Steve Garvey weighs bid for US Senate

Steve Garvey knows a potential run for the United States Senate as a Republican in heavily Democratic California might make some people wonder about his decision-making.

"First of all, I had to go to the UCLA neurosurgery center to check and see if I was sane," laughed Garvey, the former Los Angele Dodgers and San Diego Padres star who confirmed with The Desert Sun on Thursday that he is exploring a run for the Republican nomination to replace Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2024.

A long-time Rancho Mirage resident, Garvey said by phone Thursday that he has not made a decision on whether to run but has been talking to donors and other people.

"Over the last couple of months, prominent Republicans and Democrats, which is interesting, have contacted me concerning an interest in running for a position, and obviously it would be the Senate," Garvey said. "I had contemplated when I retired from baseball (in 1987), but thing always got in the way."

Garvey, 74, has been associated with Republican elected officials in the past, including introducing President Ronald Reagan during campaign stops.

"So I said I will explore (running)," Garvey said. "And I spent probably six weeks at least exploring. We haven't got to the decision-making part of it yet. But I will say that probably in the next couple of weeks we will have an answer."

Republican strategist Andy Gharakhani told the Los Angeles Times he is advising Garvey.

If Garvey were to jump into the race as a Republican, he would immediately become the most well-known GOP hopeful, despite his lack of any elective political experience. The field of announced candidates thus far is largely dominated by Democrats, most notably Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee.

Garvey would also face an uphill challenge, since no Republican has won a statewide election in California since 2006. But as a former member of both the Dodgers and Padres, his name carries significant celebrity and recognition in two major portions of the state.

“He’s a very well-known former athlete in California, and, assuming a strong and competent candidacy, I think he would absolutely have the opportunity to consolidate the Republican vote in the primary,” GOP strategist Rob Stutzman told The Times.

The Times noted that Garvey went on record in 1981 saying he had been approached about running for Senate. He later attended the Republican National Convention and raised money for then-candidate George H.W. Bush.

In May, he attended a state Republican donor event in Rancho Mirage, and his potential candidacy was “openly discussed at the event,” an attendee told the Times. Earlier this week, he took part in a fundraiser for Orange County Rep. Michelle Steel in Newport Beach.

Garvey played Major League Baseball from 1969 through 1987. He was a 10-time all-star first baseman noted for his strong defensive play as well as his offensive production. He was the 1974 National League most valuable player and a member of the Dodgers' 1981 World Series championship team.

After the 1982 season, Garvey signed with the San Diego Padres and played there for five years, including helping the Padres to the 1984 National League championship. He was the National League Championship Series most valuable player for the Padres in 1984, the same award he won with the Dodgers in 1978. Garvey also still holds the record for consecutive games played in the National League at 1,207.

City News Service contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Former Dodger Steve Garvey weighs bid for US Senate