BATTER UP — Republicans haven’t won a statewide race since 2006, but a former Los Angeles Dodger is pitching himself as an outsider who can help the GOP bring a fresh perspective — and starpower — to one of the most closely-watched races in the country. Steve Garvey officially launched his bid for U.S. Senate today, joining three high-profile Democrats and two Republican candidates who have thus far failed to gain traction in the party. He would ordinarily have little chance of making it to Washington, but with three (or potentially four) big-name Dems splitting the vote, some Republicans hope a candidate with a high name ID and lots of cash could consolidate enough voters to make it into the top two in 2024. Garvey said in an interview he’s been approached by Democrats and Republicans about running for office for more than two decades, and now, given California’s struggles with affordability and public safety, he’s ready to jump in. "When I started having people come up and say, 'You know, I'm a Giants fan and I hate the Dodgers, but I'll vote for you,’ I said, ‘Well, I guess that's enough,’†he told Playbook. A poll from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, released in September before Feinstein’s death, ranked Garvey as the top choice among 7 percent of voters, the same as fellow Republicans Eric Early and James Bradley. That even division suggests all three GOP candidates would appeal to the same base of conservative voters. Garvey spent much of the 1970s and 1980s as a first baseman for the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Berkeley poll found the 10-time National League All Star performed best among voters in the Inland Empire and North Coast/Sierras regions — and worst among those in the San Francisco Bay Area. As we’ve seen with other statewide Republican candidates of late, Garvey isn’t taking a hardline stance on culture war issues. He values "free will and choice," and vowed to honor Californians' positions on abortion and same-sex marriage. When it comes to Trump, Garvey didn’t commit to backing the former president or seeking his endorsement. With less than five months until the primaries, the baseball legend needs to make up ground quickly, and even joked he’s starting about “$30 million behind.†He intends to use some of his own money in the campaign (without specifying a dollar amount), but said “Team Garvey is going to be a collaboration.†At 74, he would be among the older candidates on the ballot. Lee is 77, Porter is 49 and Schiff is 63. Garvey said he’s fit for the job. "I think I'm still pretty sharp," he said. "And I work out five to six days a week." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: GOLDEN OUT THE GATE — It’s been less than two weeks since San Francisco Mayor London Breed got another major challenger, but she’s already facing a run for her money. Nonprofit executive Daniel Lurie raised more than $230,000 in the 13 days since he announced his candidacy, his campaign told Playbook. It’s a sizable haul considering the city caps contributions at $500 per person. Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, will face Breed in next year’s election. His fundraising suggests the race will be highly competitive. Breed, by comparison, had $298,000 cash on hand as of June 30, and raised about $200,000 during the first six months of the year. The mayor faces a tough road to reelection, largely due to voter frustration with the city’s homelessness and fentanyl addiction crises. Moreover, Lurie is competing with Breed for the support of the same base of moderate-leaning affluent donors. The mayoral race is also getting crowded: Supervisor Ahsha Safaà is running, and Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin hasn’t ruled it out. | 
