Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff defeats Steve Garvey in California Senate race

State of play: Schiff — who gained national prominence as the lead prosecutor at former President Trump's first impeachment trial — made Trump the focus of the race, re-running a strategy that's proved effective in California since 2016.

• In the race's only debate, Schiff called Garvey a "MAGA mini-me in a baseball uniform" and emphasized Garvey supporting Trump in all three elections.

Reality check: Garvey was not endorsed by Trump and did not attend the GOP national convention.

• He argued that Schiff's role in Trump's impeachment indicated he was more interested in the former president than California's problems and focused his campaign on the southern border.

Zoom in: Schiff has advocated for expanding the Supreme Court or instituting term limits, codifying the federal right to an abortion, passing a universal background check law and banning assault weapons.

Context: Schiff led Garvey by wide margins in every poll on the race and outraised him considerably. Election forecasters never considered the race competitive.

• Schiff helped set his own matchup by boosting Garvey in the March primary, to avoid an intraparty battle against fellow Democratic Rep. Katie Porter.

The big picture: It's been 18 years since a Republican last won a statewide California election: former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 reelection.

• That streak includes a failed attempt to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom and two Senate races in which a Republican did not reach the general election.
• The state has not had a Republican senator since 1992, when Pete Wilson resigned mid-term to become governor.

What's next: California will elect a new governor in an open race in 2026.

Go deeper: Election Night: Trump leads in North Carolina, Georgia; race still in the balance