LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former baseball MVP Steve Garvey joined the race Tuesday to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, giving Republicans a splash of star quality on the ballot in a heavily Democratic state where the GOP hasn’t won a Senate race in 35 years. He did not answer directly when asked if he considered himself part of the Trump wing of the GOP. In California's last two Senate races, GOP candidates performed so poorly that only Democrats appeared on the November ballot. The last Republican to win a Senate race in the state was in 1988. Garvey confirmed in June that he was considering entering the Senate race, and his candidacy was widely expected.

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Persons: Steve Garvey, California Sen, Dianne Feinstein, GOP hasn’t, Garvey, Donald Trump, “, ” Garvey, “ It’s, Trump, ”, Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, Sen, Laphonza Butler, Gavin Newsom, Joe Biden’s, Wade, Republicans —, haven't, Eric Early, “ We're, wasn't, I’ve Organizations: ANGELES, Republicans, GOP, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Democrats, Trump, National League MVP, Democratic U.S, Reps, Republican, Democratic, Senate, Dodger Locations: California, Mexico, U.S