Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former baseball player Steve Garvey, a Republican, engaged in a one-hour debate on Tuesday, their only debate before the Nov. 5 election. Both men are competing for the Senate seat left vacant by the late Dianne Feinstein.
During the televised Senate Candidate Forum hosted by ABC7, both candidates expressed their belief that China should be held accountable for manufacturing fentanyl precursors. Schiff emphasized the need to target international cartels involved in trafficking this deadly drug and called for action against China and other manufacturers of fentanyl precursors to protect American lives.
Garvey, on the other hand, advocated for diplomatic pressure on nations facilitating illicit fentanyl production. He criticized open borders as a contributing factor to Americans being killed by fentanyl and stressed the importance of border security in preventing its flow into the country.
The candidates also discussed gun control policies. Garvey supported stringent background checks instead of stricter gun laws while emphasizing his commitment to preserving Second Amendment rights. Schiff advocated for more regulations on firearms and expressed support for an assault weapons ban along with extended and universal background checks.
Regarding abortion, Garvey stated his belief in life at conception and pledged to support all Californians based on his steadfast policies on abortion. Schiff vowed to protect access to abortion and fight for a national “right to abortion” law.
Housing affordability was another topic of discussion. Schiff called for more housing construction in California along with tax incentives for developers as potential solutions. In contrast, Garvey argued against government intervention and regulation, believing it would worsen the housing issue.
Schiff proposed structural changes within the Supreme Court such as term limits and rebalancing it due to concerns about its reactionary nature.
Both candidates acknowledged California’s struggles with high living costs but offered different approaches towards addressing them. Schiff urged local governments to implement policies that drive demand while incentivizing people to return to cities. Garvey emphasized consensus-building rather than strict party-line voting as a means of revitalizing California’s growth.
both candidates presented their experience—Schiff highlighting his 24 years of public service—and expressed pride in representing California while vying for voters’ support in this upcoming election.