The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Feb. 24 - 27.

It found Rep. Schiff with the support of 28% of likely voters. Republican former Major League Baseball player Steve Garvey had 20% support followed by Democrat Rep. Katie Porter with 17% and Democrat Rep. Barbara Lee with 8%.

Seventeen percent remained undecided.

“Both Garvey and Porter are within the poll's margin of error for second place in a race where a top-two finish would place them on the ballot in November,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

The winner of the November runoff will succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who held the seat from 1992 until her death in September 2023.

Among those who have already voted, the survey found 47% supported Schiff, 19% Porter, 18% Garvey, and 10% Lee. Among those who have yet to vote but are likely to do so, 30% support Schiff, 22% Garvey, and Porter 20%.

The survey also showed a vast majority of Californians, 69%, support California Proposition 1, a ballot measure that authorizes $6.38 billion in bonds to build treatment facilities for those with mental health and substance abuse issues.

Other poll results:

• Independents split: 27% support Schiff, 24% support Garvey, and 20% support Porter.
• A quarter (25%) of voters under 30 support Katie Porter, while 21% support Lee, and 20% Schiff.
• Schiff’s support is highest among voters over 70: 49% support Schiff, while 30% support Garvey.
• The economy is the top issue for 25% of voters, followed by housing affordability (15%), immigration (12%), healthcare (10%), crime (9%), threats to democracy (8%), and education (7%).
• President Biden holds a 50% job approval among likely California primary voters, and 38% disapprove of the job he is doing.
• Governor Gavin Newsom holds a 49% job approval while 39% disapprove of the job he is doing as Governor.
• In a potential 2024 matchup, Joe Biden leads Donald Trump 57% to 35%, while 9% are undecided.

“Vote Centers offer a traditional voting experience, with the added benefit of giving voters the freedom to cast their ballot at any location in the county,” said Shannon Bushey, Registrar of Voters. “All Vote Centers are fully-equipped to handle any voting need, and our staff is happy to help all voters make their voices heard.” 

There will be a total of 104 Vote Centers open across Santa Clara County for the March 5 Presidential Primary Election. In addition to the 23 that will open this Saturday, an additional 81 will open next Saturday, March 2.

Vote Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., depending on the location. On Election Day, Tuesday, March 5, all vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Voters in Santa Clara County will be able to return ballots by mail or drop it off at any of the 102 Official Drop Boxes, which are open 24 hours a day, and on Election Day until 8 p.m.

To find a Vote Center location near you, visit rovservices.sccgov.org.

It all depends on whether you are registered with a political party or registered as "No Party Preference," and if any parties allow these NPP voters to vote for their candidates.

According to the Secretary of State, there are more than 22 million registered voters as of early January 2024, and 4.8 million of those are registered as "No Party Preference."

If you are an NPP voter, your ballot will still contain local races, since most of these are nonpartisan, but you won't automatically see presidential candidates for any of the parties.

Here's what you need to do if you are an NPP voter and want to vote for a presidential candidate in California's primary election.

If you want to vote in the Republican, Green or Peace and Freedom primary elections, you'll have to re-register as a party member. These parties have what is known as a "closed presidential party."

California allows voters to change their registration up until the ballots close on Primary Election Day, but voters will receive a provisional ballot that will not be officially counted until the registration change is processed.

NPP voters can cast a ballot for the Democratic, Libertarian and American Independent primary elections for U.S. president, but you must request one of those parties' ballots first.

These parties have what is known as a "modified-closed presidential primary."

The Secretary of State says NPP voters can request a replacement ballot with presidential candidates from your county's elections office. Find your county elections office here.

NPP voters who choose to vote in person at the polls can ask a poll worker for a ballot from any of the three parties that allow them to participate in their respective primaries.

If you are not sure what party you are registered with, you can check your voter status at the Secretary of State's website.

The survey of 1,000 registered voters was conducted several days after the top four candidates participated in an Inside California Politics debate that aired on all six local Nexstar television stations in the Golden State.

Since January, Rep. Schiff has increased his support from 25% to 28%. Garvey’s support increased from 18% to 22%; Rep. Katie Porter has climbed from 13% to 16%, while Rep. Barbara Lee’s support remained largely flat at 9%, the poll found.

17% of likely voters said they were still undecided, down from 24% in the previous Emerson College/Nexstar poll, and a handful of other candidates remain in the low single-digits.

The poll has an error margin of three percentage points.

“Candidate support varies by age group,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “Schiff’s support is highest among voters in their 60s, at 45%, and those over 70, with 39%, whereas Porter’s strength is among young voters, where she holds 23%. Notably, this group has the highest share of undecided voters at 28%. Garvey’s strength is also with older voters, with 33% support among voters over 70.”

Voters were also asked if they knew about or watched last Monday’s debate and, if so, who they believe won. 69% of those surveyed were familiar with the debate. 33% said Schiff won, followed by 19% for Porter, 18% for Garvey, and 9% said Lee.

21% of those surveyed said no candidate emerged as the clear winner.

The top two candidates from the March 5 primary will face each other in November’s general election to determine who will succeed the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Other poll findings:

• The economy remains the top issue facing California voters (27%), followed by immigration (14%), housing affordability (14%), crime (11%), healthcare (9%), homelessness (8%), education (7%), threats to democracy (5%), and abortion (3%).
• Independent voters are split between Garvey (23%) and Schiff (22%).
• Voters were asked which candidate they trust to do the best job on a series of issues, regardless of which candidate they plan to vote for.
  • Crime: 32% Schiff, 25% Garvey, 19% Porter, and 12% Lee.
  • Homelessness: 29% Schiff, 26% Garvey, 20% Porter, and 13% Lee.
  • War in Israel and Gaza: 33% Schiff, 25% Garvey, 14% Porter, and 12% Lee.
  • Immigration: 32% Schiff, 27% Garvey, 17% Porter, and 11% Lee.
  • Abortion: 26% Porter, 25% Schiff, 23% Garvey, and 11% Lee.

In his answer, Garvey revealed he has voted twice for Trump - but would not say if he would vote for him again. Garvey said on the podium that "the greatest single currency we have as Americans is the right to vote."

"I think it's personal. I'll make that decision when the time comes," he said. "And I hope this puts to an end the constant badgering and the use of the former president's name as an attack against me."

Garvey continued to say it would also be his personal decision to make if he was ever offered an endorsement from Trump - without revealing if he would accept an endorsement from him.

"These are personal choices. I only answer to God, my wife, family, and to the people of California - and I hope you would respect that I have personal choices."

Democrat Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee tried to stand out from one another and pitch themselves to voters as they hope to advance to the November runoff. Meanwhile, Republican Steve Garvey looked to make his case as the alternate choice for Californians who have grown tired of the Democratic status quo.

While Schiff, Porter and Lee seemed to operate with an unspoken truce, the Democrats took several swings at the Los Angeles Dodgers legend, hoping to knock him off balance and paint him as a MAGA Republican who aligns closely with Donald Trump.

Here are four moments that people will be talking about after the California U.S. Senate debate.

TRUMP

The 45th President of the United States, and the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, was a major topic in Monday's debate.

The three Democrats were united in their belief that Trump should not be allowed to be on the 2024 ballot, but said they would not hesitate to certify a Trump win if it were to happen.

"Donald Trump engaged in an insurrection and should not be on the ballot," Porter said.

Schiff, a major thorn in the side of Trump during his single term as POTUS, called his former rival the "greatest threat to democracy."

Garvey disagreed with Schiff's proclamation, calling the "deconstruction of the constitution" as the greatest threat to democracy, specifically citing removing the filibuster from Senate procedure and "packing" the Supreme Court.

Garvey's non-denouncement of the former president came into focus again just as it did weeks earlier the first time the four candidates sparred on the debate stage.

For the second time, Garvey, who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, refused to say whom he would be voting for in the 2024 Presidential election.

“I think it’s personal. I’ll make that decision when the time comes,” Garvey said. “And I hope this puts to an end the constant badgering and the use of the former president’s name as an attack against me.”

The baseball legend did say that he hadn't talked to the former president since his campaign began and was mum about whether he would accept a Trump endorsement.

CRIME

The topic of retail theft and smash-and-grab burglaries led to arguably the most contentious moment of an otherwise civil debate.

Schiff agreed that burglaries and crime were a problem, adding that he's worked to build safe communities dating back to his time as a prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office, saying that he's been prosecuting criminals since "back when Mr. Garvey was playing baseball."

As a non-politician, Garvey took an even harder stance and blamed crime in California on the powers that be, specifically singling out his debate opponents.

"There's never been more crime on the streets of California than today. And my opponents here, career politicians, it's been on their watch. They are responsible," Garvey said.

MINIMUM WAGE

Rep. Lee made waves recently for saying she believed that the federal minimum wage should be raised, possibly as high as $50 per hour.

On Monday, she didn't back down from that stance, citing a recent survey that found the cost of living in the Bay Area required an income in the six figures; a $50 minimum wage would land around $104,000.

While $50 per hour eclipses any of the other suggested raises from her Democrat colleagues, Lee said any raise to the federal minimum is desperately needed as long as affordability is taken into consideration.

“Just do the math. Of course we have national minimum wages that we need to raise to a living wage,” Lee said. “We’re talking about $20, $25, fine."

Garvey dismissed the idea, saying that the federal minimum wage was "where it is and should be."

"Instead of a Big Mac for $9, it's going to be $15," Garvey said.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

Perhaps no topic has a wider range of opinions than the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Israel's war with Hamas.

Schiff has been outspoken in his support of Israel and its right to defend itself, saying of Hamas, "they wanted this kind of response."

"Hamas is threatening to attack them over and over and over again, no nation could endure that," Schiff said. "At the same time, the President is right to continue pressing Israel to try to avoid civilian casualties to try to minimize the loss of civilian life."

Porter called on the United States and Israel to commit to rebuilding war-torn Gaza once the dust has settled and Hamas has been removed from power.

"I think the people of Gaza absolutely need different leadership," Porter said. "I think that any peace should come with the release of the hostages as well as a commitment by the United States and Israel to help rebuild Gaza and position it to flourish in the future."

Schiff, Lee and Porter all advocated for the "two-state solution," that would establish an independent state of Palestine alongside Israel.

Garvey called that idea "naïve."

"Israel will determine ... whether Hamas will survive," he said. "And to think there could be a two state state solution is naïve because one of those states will always try to annihilate Israel."

FAVORITE MEDIA

Another topic that came up, although not one that will likely determine the future of our nation, the four candidates were asked two simple questions: what is your favorite film and the last book you read.

Garvey said his favorite film was, fittingly, the Robert Redford baseball flick, "The Natural." The last book he read, Garvey said, was "The Case for Civility," by Os Guinness.

Schiff picked "The Big Lebowski," and said the last book he read was Ron Chernow's "Grant," a biography of the 18th President.

Lee's favorite film was "The Color Purple," and her most recently read book was "Beloved" by the late Toni Morrison.

The last book Porter read was "The Latecomers" by Helen Klein Ross and her favorite film was "Star Wars," although she didn't specify which one.

Who do you think won Monday's debate? Let us know here.

Was it one of the three Democratic members of the House: Adam Schiff, Katie Porter or Barbara Lee? Or was it Republican candidate Steve Garvey, who has not held public office before?
Let us know who you think won in the poll below:

It has been over a year since Porter announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate race. Soon after, the two other House members, Lee and Schiff, launched their campaigns.

It wasn't until the fall that Garvey announced he would enter the race after several months of speculation.

Recent polling from Inside California Politics and Emerson College Polling show Schiff strengthening his lead in the race, with Porter and Garvey fighting for second place.

Check back over the next few days to see the latest results from this unscientific debate poll.