Rep. Katie Porter, who accused her main Democratic rival in the Senate race of cynical attempts to prop up Republicans in the race, is now doing the same thing.
Irvine, who is running for second place in the March 5 primary against former Republican baseball player Steve Garvey, is running a digital ad touting the conservative credentials of one of Garvey's Republican rivals. .
The Facebook ad claims that Eric Early, a lawyer and longtime candidate with low-single-digit approval ratings in the Senate race, is the true conservative in the race.
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, who is running for the Senate seat of the late Dianne Feinstein, greeted supporters Saturday at a campaign event at Lola's Mexican Cuisine in Long Beach.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
“Who is the real Republican threat in the California Senate race? MAGA Republican Eric Early proudly supports Donald Trump, while Steve Garvey refuses to reveal who he is supporting.” “Mr. Garvey claimed he might vote for Joe Biden. Let's get the facts,” the Facebook post reads.
Although the ad is ostensibly critical of Early, it is similar to recent Democratic efforts to boost Republicans' electoral standing, a byproduct of the state's open primary system. The top two vote-getters in March will advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. Democrats hold a majority on California's voter rolls, but if Republicans solidify their support for one candidate in the crowded field, that candidate could win one of the two spots.
If Mr. Porter's ads increase support for Mr. Early among Republican voters, it could erode Mr. Garvey's support and allow Mr. Porter to take second place.
According to polls, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) appears certain to win the top spot in the primary. Garvey's campaign and the super PAC supporting his candidacy have spent millions of dollars running television ads highlighting Garvey.
“Two strong Senate candidates. Two very different visions of California,” the narrator of Schiff's campaign ad exclaims, and Garvey later calls former President Trump “too conservative for California.” He pointed out that he had voted twice.
At the time, Porter denounced the effort as a political ploy.
A supporter holds a sign at a Katie Porter campaign event at Lola's Mexican Cuisine in Long Beach on Saturday.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
“Adam Schiff knows he's going to lose to me in November. That's what this brazenly sarcastic ad is about — promoting his own political career and supporting qualified Democratic female candidates. and support Republican candidates.” She wrote to X, Social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “We need honest leadership, not political gamesmanship.
On Saturday, Porter argued that her message focused on Early is not the same as Schiff's ad about Garvey.
“That's a big difference, because, first of all, Eric Early is a candidate who supports Trump in this race. So we're being honest with voters about who MAGA conservatives are. Yes, and I think it's really important for people to know that,” he told reporters after a campaign event at a Mexican restaurant in Long Beach. “And look, this is a tough race. We're going to cross the finish line. But it's important that we primarily try to convey a positive message and that that's the key to our efforts. I think most of it is. But we also need to educate all voters about what's at stake in the election.”
Garvey denounced Porter as a hypocrite.
“This is typical behavior of career politicians. They say one thing and then do another,” he said.
Mr. Schiff and Mr. Earley did not respond to requests for comment.
