Star Power
In two key states, Republicans may again be turning to well-known names with no political experience in their effort to reclaim a majority in the U.S. Senate.
In Arizona, Iowa native Kari Lake has made it official…she’s running for the GOP nomination there. The long-time TV anchor was the party’s nominee for governor last year, with some lawsuits still pending challenging the outcome of that election.
And in California, former Major League Baseball star Steve Garvey has declared his candidacy. He was the first baseman on the 1981 World Series-winning L.A. Dodger team, and later played for the San Diego Padres, leading them to a league pennant.
Neither has won elective office before, but both are very well known to voters. Both also spent their careers being neutral and non-controversial, which makes a move to hyper-partisan politics interesting.
Obviously, the “star power” approach did not work for Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania last year; John Fetterman, who won that race, is making his first appearance out-of-state…in Iowa, at our state’s Democrats’ annual dinner this year—that word came yesterday, by the way.
Both Lake and Garvey have to win their primary elections first, of course…and depending on how crowded the field might be, name recognition will mean a lot. Beyond that, especially in California given the voter registration numbers, how well each does will depend on more than being a regular fixture on television, or having a World Series ring. But an actor there did become governor as a Republican…actually, twice.
Part of trend? Too soon to tell. But if it works…you know you’ll see more of it.
