UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting that Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey, a former baseball star, will advance to the top-two general election showdown to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly occupied by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The previous story is below.

--

(TND) On a Super Tuesday that lacks a lot of national suspense, there's a Senate race out West that will set the stage for what could be an interesting showdown this fall.

The crowded primary race for a U.S. Senate seat from California includes several Democratic members of Congress and a retired baseball star running as a Republican in the deep-blue state.

The top two from Tuesday’s primary will face off in the general election this fall, regardless of party.

Democrats Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee and Katie Porter, along with Republican Steve Garvey, who played nearly 20 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, are viewed as the most likely options to emerge from the primary.

A recent Public Policy Institute of California survey had Schiff leading the way with 24% of likely voters among a field of around 30 candidates.

Porter got 19% support in that poll, followed by Garvey (18%) and Lee (10%).

California’s polls close at 8 p.m. local time, 11 Eastern. But the results might not be known for a while as mail-in ballots are counted.

They’re all running to take the place of long-time Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died last September.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to the seat, but she decided against running to keep the job.

Garvey might have name recognition, but he faces an uphill battle. A Republican hasn’t won a Senate race in California since 1988.

Still, he has a good shot at registering among the top two vote-getters on Tuesday, which would propel him on to the general election.

That would set up an election battle between a baseball star and likely a Democratic lawmaker. Or the race could pit two Democrats against each other in November if two of Schiff, Lee or Porter advance.

Schiff is the biggest name of the three on the national stage, having served as a vocal congressional critic of former President Donald Trump during the former administration.

Thirty-four of 100 Senate seats are up for election, according to Ballotpedia.

Democrats have 48 seats to the Republicans 49, but three independents caucus with Democrats.