Rep. Katie Porter, who accused her primary Democratic rival in the Senate race of cynicism for trying to prop up a Republican in the race, is now doing the same.
The Irvine congresswoman, who is battling former Republican baseball player Steve Garvey to come in second in the March 5 primary, is running digital ads touting the conservative credentials of one of Garvey's Republican rivals.
Facebook ads argue that Eric Early, a lawyer and perennial candidate who polls in the low single digits in Senate races, is the real conservative in the race.
Rep. Katie Porter, who is running for the late Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat, greets supporters at a campaign event at Lola's Mexican Cuisine on Saturday 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 tell us who he supports. Garvey claimed he might even vote for Joe Biden. Let him know the facts,” the Facebook post says.
Although the ad ostensibly criticizes Early, it is similar to other recent Democratic efforts to improve a Republican's standing in an election, a byproduct of the state's open primary system. The two who obtain the most votes in March advance to the general elections, regardless of their party affiliation. While Democrats dominate California's voter rolls, if Republicans consolidate behind one candidate in a crowded field, he or she could win one of those two seats.
If Porter's announcement increases support for Early among Republican voters, that would reduce Garvey's support, possibly allowing Porter to win second place.
According to polls, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) appears to be assured of first place in the primary. His campaign, as well as a super PAC supporting his candidacy, are spending millions of dollars on television ads highlighting Garvey.
“Two outstanding candidates for the Senate. Two very different visions of California,” a narrator intones in a Schiff campaign ad, later noting that Garvey “is too conservative for California” and voted twice for former President Trump.
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 on Saturday in Long Beach.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
“Adam Schiff knows he will lose to me in November. That’s what this blatantly cynical ad is all about: promoting his own political career, excluding qualified Democratic candidates, and pushing a Republican candidate to do so.” she wrote in X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “We need honest leadership, not political games.
On Saturday, Porter argued that his Early-focused message was not the same as Schiff's announcement about Garvey.
“It is a big difference. Because, on the one hand, Eric Early is the candidate supporting Trump in this race. That's why we're being honest with voters about who the MAGA conservative is, 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 difficult race. Let's cross the finish line. But I think it's important that we try to spread a mostly positive message and that's where most of our efforts are. But we also need to educate all voters about what is at stake in the election.”
Garvey accused Porter of hypocrisy.
“This is typical behavior of career politicians. They say one thing and then do another,” he stated.
Schiff and Early did not respond to requests for comment.
