NEWS AND OPINION:
Could this be a home run for a baseball great in the Golden State?
“In the backdrop of what is shaping up to be an historically low turnout for a California primary election, former baseball slugger Republican Steve Garvey is now in a statistical tie with Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff atop a crowded field of 27 candidates running in next week’s full-term election for U.S. Senate,” reports the Berkeley Institute of Government Studies, otherwise known as IGS.
“The latest Berkeley IGS Poll completed one week before Election Day finds Garvey the choice of 27% of likely voters, while Schiff receives the backing of 25%. Democratic congresswoman Katie Porter is in third at 19%, Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee trails with 8%, another 12% are supporting other candidates, and 9% are undecided,” reports Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley IGS Poll.
“The large increase in voter support for Garvey over the past six weeks has occurred mainly by consolidating the support of Republican and strong conservative voters, 67% of whom now back Garvey in the full-term U.S. Senate race,” he said in a written statement.
“These findings represent a dramatic change in the standings when compared to earlier polls in the Senate race. For example, just six weeks ago the Berkeley IGS Poll had Schiff leading both Senate elections, with Garvey trailing behind Porter in third. A big part of Garvey’s appeal to primary election voters relates to voter perceptions that he will be tougher on the nation’s immigration problem than the other candidates,” Mr. DeCamillo said.
“Nearly all of his supporters (94%) say this attribute was very important to them in deciding whom to support in the Senate race,” he noted.
The poll of 6,536 registered voters in California was conducted online Feb. 22-27 and released Friday.
What Steve said
Here’s what the aforementioned Mr. Garvey had to say about the new findings:
“I am deeply humbled by the trust and support shown by Californians in this latest poll. This demonstrates that our message of addressing the real issues that Californians care about with compassionate, common-sense solutions is resonating more than the tired political bickering of career politicians. It’s clear that people are ready for new leadership that brings us together to build a brighter future for California,” he said in a statement shared with the Beltway.
Mr. Garvey, by the way, the first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1987, was a 10-time All-Star, National League Most Valuable Player in 1974, and National League Championship Series MVP in 1978 and 1984.
Eye on the military
Fox News primetime host Harris Faulkner will debut a special edition of “The Faulkner Focus” on Monday with an emphasis on the military. The special is titled, in fact, “The Faulkner Focus: Military in Focus.”
The one-hour special will feature a roundtable discussion with military and national security experts including Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, retired staff sergeant and Fox News contributor Joey Jones, Senate Armed Services member and former Army Lt. Col. Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican, and former Deputy National Security Adviser KT McFarland.
“They will discuss the current state of the U.S. military as well as threats to our country. Faulkner, whose late father Lt. Col. Bobby R. Harris served as a U.S. Army officer and Army Aviator with multiple tours in Vietnam, will share her perspective and pay homage to servicemen and women,” Fox News said in a statement.
The program airs at 11 a.m. ET.
Goodbye DEI
University of Florida officials have addressed the diversity, equity and inclusion practices on their campus and taken some action. The school is focused on legislation that defunds DEI programs at universities in the Sunshine State; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on that legislation on May 15, 2023.
It’s complicated.
“To comply with the Florida Board of Governors regulation 9.016 on prohibited expenditures, the University of Florida has closed the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated DEI positions and administrative appointments, and halted DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors,” said a press release issued Friday by J. Scott Angle, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at the university, along with Amy Meyers Hass, vice president and general counsel and Melissa Curry, vice president for Human Resources.
University employees whose positions were eliminated will receive 12 weeks of pay and have been encouraged to apply for “expedited consideration” for jobs currently posted with the university. The human resources department plans to fast-track the interview process and provide an answer on all applications within the 12-week window.
“Additionally, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer will reallocate the approximately $5 million in funds — previously reported to Tallahassee for DEI expenses, including salaries and expenditures — into a faculty recruitment fund to be administered by the Office of the Provost,” the press release said.
“The University of Florida is – and will always be – unwavering in our commitment to universal human dignity. As we educate students by thoughtfully engaging a wide range of ideas and views, we will continue to foster a community of trust and respect for every member of the Gator Nation,” the release also noted.
Poll du jour
34% of U.S. adults are “somewhat more likely” to support a presidential candidate who favors continued military aid to Ukraine.
34% of Republicans, 34% of independents and 38% of Democrats agree.
24% are “somewhat less likely” to support that candidate.
28% of Republicans, 24% of independents and 19% of Democrats agree.
20% are “much more likely” to support that candidate.
10% of Republicans, 21% of independents and 32% of Democrats agree.
18% are “much less likely” to support that candidate.
23% of Republicans, 19% of independents and 8% of Democrats agree.
Source: A Reuters/IPSOS poll of 1,185 U.S. adults conducted online Feb. 25-28.
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• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.