Senator-elect Schiff vows to protect democracy without naming Trump

LOS ANGELES — Adam Schiff, who rose to prominence as the Democrats’ leading anti-Trump voice in the House, easily clinched a promotion to the Senate on Tuesday.

But his victory speech in downtown Los Angeles was more somber than exultant as he turned to the national political dynamic, with Republicans poised to take control of the Senate and Donald Trump projected to win key battleground states of Georgia and North Carolina.

"Tonight is going to be a hard, long night. We won't know the result of every race. We will need to be patient," he said. "And whatever the result of the presidential race, we know there will be serious challenges facing the state of California and the country, regardless of the outcome, regardless of the way people may have voted."

Schiff easily defeated his Republican opponent, former baseball star Steve Garvey — a victory that was so anticipated that the Burbank Democrat spent much of the general election campaigning and raising money for out-of-state Senate Democrats in an effort to cozy up to his future colleagues.

In his speech, Schiff acknowledged Garvey, his opponent, and said that he joined the baseball icon in celebrating the Dodgers' World Series victory.

He did not mention Trump, his bitter adversary, by name, but he implicitly invoked the Republican presidential candidate by vowing to guard the country's democratic institutions.

Schiff said that, as senator, he is "committed to taking on the big fights to protect our freedoms and protect our democracy."

"California will continue to be at the forefront of progress, the fulcrum of democracy, the champion of innovation and the protector of our rights and freedoms," he said.

He also echoed other California Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who have acknowledged the state's housing affordability crisis. "We are going to build more affordable housing so that you aren't forced to choose between your rent and putting food on the table," he said. "We are going to ensure that our fellow neighbors do not have to sleep on the street."

Blake Jones contributed to this story.