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Home Front: Politix

The Art World's Enfant Terrible Runs for Senate

2024-03-04

[Free Press] PASADENA, CA — Stefan Simchowitz, 53, is no one’s idea of a viable candidate, including his own.

"I have no illusion that I can win or that I stand a chance to win, which is also quite liberating, because I’m not running to win a campaign. I have no prayer," he tells me.

Simchowitz, who is running for Senate as a Republican in a seat that has been held by a Democrat for 32 years, is perched at the kitchen island in one of his four homes, an updated Victorian farmhouse on an acre in Pasadena that he’s been building into an exhibition space and artist residency for the past year or so. He calls it Red Barns.

In a tan Altadena Hardware shirt and one of his signature bucket hats, the contemporary art dealer once dubbed "the Art World’s Patron Satan" offers me sparkling water and a bite of his blueberry muffin. Unlike the Democrats vying for Dianne Feinstein’s open seat—Representatives Katie Porter, who has a $12 million war chest and Adam Schiff ($32 million)—and the Republican front-runner, former L.A. Dodger Steve Garvey, Simchowitz doesn’t seem concerned with shaking hands, kissing babies, or winning votes.

"Sometimes if you know you’re going to lose you can only win," he says. Stefan sees this campaign as a "vehicle to sell his ideas." In other words: a performance art project of sorts. How else to make sense of this Democrat-turned-Republican, with no political experience, throwing his hat into the ring?

Posted by:Besoeker

#3 Schiff's effort to push the other Asshole Dem's (Porter and Lee) might just come back to bite him.

Garvey isn't a bogeyman "MAGA Trump" tool in most people's eyes whether Schiff's persistent ads say so or not

Posted by: Frank G 2024-03-04 19:54

#2 An attempt to syphon votes from Steve Garvey, but it is not a good attempt. He might win support from Republicans that are Giants or Padres fans.
As I remember the California system, it is a jungle primary so the top two finishers will face off in November. If they had a viable Republican, they could reduce the race to two Democrats. I may be wrong. I left CA more than a decade ago.

Posted by: Super Hose 2024-03-04 15:50

#1 In California, Republicans run for office for art.
Because it certainly ain't for effect.

Posted by: ed in texas 2024-03-04 11:44

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