Dems skewer Garvey over Trump: The feistiest moments from the California Senate debate

LOS ANGELES — Democrats split on Israel’s war in Gaza, and Republican Steve Garvey refused to say if he supports former President Donald Trump in a critical pre-primary debate on Monday night.

The showdown’s feistiest moments came as Garvey wriggled — for a full ten minutes — under

Democrats’ attempt to pin him down on Trump. The former president is deeply toxic in much of liberal California, but Garvey risks alienating the state’s still-sizeable Republican electorate if he assails Trump. The most he said was that President Joe Biden had not “been good for this country.”

“You’re banging on that trash can, just like the Astros did,” the former baseball player said, referencing the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal as he lamented the pile-on.

“Once a Dodger, always a Dodger,” Rep. Katie Porter retorted.

Democratic Reps Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee and Porter largely refrained from attacking each other, finding common cause with their embrace of policies like Medicare for All.

But they broke sharply over Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza — an issue that has broadly divided Democrats and galvanized the left, with Lee urging an immediate cease-fire and Schiff rejecting that call.

Porter and Schiff trade blows on campaign contributions

Porter and Schiff got into their most combative exchange of the night as she lambasted him for having taken campaign money from the oil industry.

It was a proxy for Porter’s larger effort to frame Schiff as a compromised Washington insider, as compared to her willingness to defy powerful interests. It drew a swift brushback from Schiff, who noted he’s backed Porter’s prior campaign.

“I gave that money to you,” Schiff said, drawing an audible response from the audience.

And then it was back to Porter, who replied Schiff had demonstrated just how beholden he was to wealthy interests — again getting a noticeable rise from attendees.

“I didn’t realize how much dirty money you took until I was running against you,” Porter said. “You’ve taken money from big oil, big pharma, cable companies.”

Garvey takes some positions — and hints at more

Garvey sought to dispel the notion he’s light on policy positions by laying out some broad tenets and suggesting more is forthcoming.

Among the points he laid out: He wants to close the border and “get crime off the streets” by funding law enforcement. He also hinted at putting out a more robust platform.

“By tomorrow, you’ll see a lot more,” Garvey said after previously saying he had to “talk to people” to flesh out his policies.

The Republican’s elusiveness on policy specifics drew barbs from Democrats on stage. Porter said earlier that he needed to clarify where he stood on abortion rights — “and, actually, on all the other issues.”

Democrats warn Republicans will end abortion rights

All three Democrats stood up for abortion rights, while Garvey worked to fend off accusations that he would restrict abortion access if elected to the Senate.

When asked if he would align with the majority of Californians and defend abortion rights in Washington, Garvey said he will “always support the voices of the people of California.”

But the Republican was less clear when asked if that policy would extend to other issues, like gun control or Trump, giving a garbled answer about building consensus.

Porter, asked if she thinks Garvey will support abortion rights in Congress, simply said, “No.”

Porter again pushed for more clarity, saying the GOP has vowed to install a federal abortion ban should they gain control in Washington. “Mr. Garvey needs to be clear about where he stands on this,” she said.

Then she went after Schiff, knocking him for listing “abortion” under his accomplishments as she referred to him as a “congressman.”

“As a mother of a young daughter I do not feel like abortion rights have been accomplished,” she said.

Garvey, in an effort to cut through the overlapping attacks, said he would not vote for a federal abortion ban.

“Let’s make that clear right now,” he said.

‘Once a Dodger, always a dodger’: Garvey sidesteps Trump — and Democrats pounce

The sole Republican on the stage declined to answer a question about how a second Trump presidency would affect Americans — and Democrats quickly went after him for it.

“I think the single greatest currency we have is the right to vote,” Garvey said. “I think we should take this personally, I think when we vote for a president and he’s duly elected, I believe we should support that president, that office, because that’s the leader of the free world.”

Lee quickly noted that Garvey had voted for Trump twice. Schiff took a much sharper jab, lambasting him for not saying whether he’d vote for him a third time, even after the events of Jan. 6.

“What more do you need to see what he’s done to be able to say that you will not support him?” Schiff asked.

Garvey still didn’t commit, but did say he didn’t think President Joe Biden had been good for the country.

“I’ve heard it said Trump was terrible for the world,” Garvey said.

“He was,” Porter interjected.

“We were safer under him than under Biden,” the Republican continued.

Porter continued to dig in, however, not letting up on Garvey for his lack of a clear answer.

“Once a Dodger, always a dodger,” Porter zinged. “Ballots go out in six weeks, Mr. Garvey, this is not the minor leagues. Who will you vote for?”

The candidates spent nearly 10 minutes cross-talking over each other on the Trump issue, but Garvey still never committed to a third vote.

Garvey wants ‘Medicare for those who deserve it’

Garvey clearly rejected Democrats’ embrace of government-run health care, saying he prefers “Medicare for those who deserve it” to Medicare for All.

“I don’t believe in government being involved,” Garvey said.

But the Republican wasn’t ready to dismantle Democrats’ signal health care policy, saying the overhaul championed by former President Barack Obama “works for some people.”

Democrats were more in alignment. They all backed Medicare for All — a reminder of how Schiff, Porter and Lee have all positioned themselves as progressives, adopting a healthcare platform that was once confined to the party’s left (and once known as “single payer”).

‘Cease-fire is not a magic word’: California Senate candidates diverge on Israel-Hamas war

The three Democrats volleyed arguments back and forth on the fighting in the Middle East, with Lee pressing hard for a cease-fire.

The Oakland lawmaker touted that she is the only candidate who has called for a permanent cease-fire, while also arguing that an end to the fighting would benefit the security of Israel.

“The only way Israel is going to be secure is through a cease-fire,” Lee said.

Schiff, who has been a steadfast supporter of Israel, said a cease-fire would hurt the country’s ability to defend itself. “We can’t leave Hamas governing Gaza,” Schiff said. “I don’t know how you can ask any nation to cease-fire when their people are being held by a terrorist organization.”

Porter cautioned that an end to fighting would not solve the conflict: “Cease-fire is not a magic word,” she said. “You can’t say it and make it so.”

Garvey said he stands with Israel, “yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

Lee and Porter split on earmarks

Right out of the gate, Porter called for an end to earmarks — and quickly drew a counter argument from Lee, who spoke to the importance of funneling dollars to California.

“I believe in earmarks,” Lee said. “I believe in not being derelict in my duty. California is one of the states that sends money to Washington D.C. — we don’t get our money back.”

Earmarks have been a key point of distinction for the Democrats throughout the race. Schiff has unapologetically vouched for earmarks, but also faced criticism for securing generous earmarks for corporations early in his career.