Baseball hero Steve Garvey is polling well in his run for U.S. Senate.

In a Politico/Morning Consult poll released Thursday, the former Dodgers and Padres all-star ranks second among likely and undecided voters.

Congressman Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, leads the poll with 28%. Garvey, R-Palm Desert — who turns 75 today (Dec. 22) — is second with 19%.

“It’s been about leadership more than about being painted or labeled. And I like people who are willing to go on the line for what’s right in America,” Garvey told KMJ radio on Thursday. “There’s no bad time to do the right thing.”

Two other congressmembers fiercely campaigning against Schiff — Katie Porter, D-Irvine, and Barbara Lee, D-Oakland — polled at 17% and 14% respectively.

The poll tabulated responses from 858 likely California voters Dec. 15-19. There is a 3% margin of error.

Garvey Optimistic Despite Republican Challenges

Garvey played from 1969 to 1982 with the Dodgers, helping the team win the 1981 World Series. He signed as a free agent with San Diego in 1983, where he played until his retirement after 1987.

Although not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Garvey was a 10-time all-star and one of the game’s best hitters during his era. Since the end of his baseball career, Garvey has spent much of his time focused on philanthropy.

While Garvey may enjoy name recognition from his sports accomplishments decades ago, being a Republican in the Golden State is a challenge. The most recent voter registration report shows 47% of the state’s 22 million registered voters are Democrats. Republicans are at 24%, and no party preference is 22%.

“We need another voice in California. My voice has been suppressed, as many others have been for a couple of generations now. But people are starting to wake up and say Steve, thank you for running. We’re proud of you. And then saying, you know what, we’ll stand up with you. And that encourages me every day,” Garvey told KMJ.

Winner Succeeds Butler, Feinstein

The winner will succeed Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Gavin Newsom following the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Butler declined to run for re-election.

The top two vote-getters in the March 5 primary advance to the November general election, regardless of party. For a while, it appeared that two of the three congressmembers running would advance. Garvey didn’t start actively campaigning until recently.

On the March ballot, the U.S. Senate seat will appear twice — once for the full-term seat starting Jan. 3, 2025; and another to complete the remainder of Feinstein’s term until Jan. 3, 2025.