A Farmers' Rebellion Lifts the California GOP

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Wall Street Journal:

Democrats were writing obituaries for California's GOP after winning a supermajority in the state legislature last November, thus gaining veto-proof power to raise taxes. But their legislative lock may have slipped after this week's special election in which Republican farmer Andy Vidak appears to have defeated a Democrat—in a heavily Democratic senate district—who had championed high-speed rail and a higher minimum wage.

If Mr. Vidak wins an outright majority—late Friday, he led with 49.8% of the vote and provisional ballots were still being counted—his victory would put Republicans two senate seats short of reclaiming their veto on tax hikes. But more important, the election has exposed the Democrats' soft underbelly in California's Central Valley—a no man's land in state politics—and given Republicans a rallying point.

"This is the shot in the arm that shows that we are doing some things right," California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House GOP whip, says.

Three months ago, Democratic state senator Michael Rubio surprised his party by resigning midway through his first term to take a job in Chevron's lobbying shop. The 35-year-old moderate from Bakersfield had just been elevated to head the senate Environmental Quality Committee and was expected to propose regulatory reforms the week he tendered his resignation.

While Mr. Rubio cited personal issues for leaving the legislature—he has a daughter with special needs—another likely concern was the realization that his career and clout in Sacramento were limited by who he was and where he came from. Unlike his coastal counterparts, Mr. Rubio supported exploiting the rich hydrocarbon and shale deposits that underlie his Valley district.

The oil industry, he told a local TV station in February, shared his view "that we need to provide an opportunity for people to go to work and provide for their families"—a statement that borders on heresy in California's Democratic Party.

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New hope for the GOP in California?

[Valin]

There is always hope. Parties particularly Democrats have a tendency to overplay their hands when they get super majorities. Remember the old saying "The Voters have spoken, now they must be punished."

 

Mr. Vidak's campaign theme was the bifurcation of California: the coastal liberal elites versus the Valley folks. "We're getting left behind here," he says. "They don't view us as important."

Ca. is in reality two states the coast which is not doing badly, and the interior which is in really bad shape. We combine that with ND and the fact CA. is sitting on an ocean of oil, and the GOP has a shot...provided they don't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory....which is always a possiblity.

 

FYI

 

Via Meadia: Category Archives: Energy & Environment