Will California Ever Go Republican Again

California dreaming did not become reality for Republicans. Back in Baronial, they had loftier hopes of taking over the governor's mansion and pinned sitting Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom Gavin NewsomDemocrats divided over proposal to suspend federal gas tax  Equilibrium/Sustainability — WHO tells Ukraine to destroy pathogens The Hill's Morning Study - Presented by Emergent - Russia widens offensive; US, allies to add merchandise sanctions More against the ropes. So they failed to state the knockout punch.

Republicans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in their futile fight to recall the incumbent. A poll conducted by CBS News and YouGov but a month ago indicated that big numbers of voters there were gear up to depose Newsom from function. But in the end, he hands fended off the challenge with a vicious left hook against his opponent, Larry Elderberry, whose cornerman was Donald Trump Donald TrumpTrump: I am not using entrada funds for new plane Exercise not exist fueled: How investing in renewables can save the world and neutralize modern Russia Wife of Clarence Thomas says she attended January. 6 'Stop the Steal' rally MORE .

The big question is what happened in the final 30 days to turn the tide. The answer is that the GOP is its ain worst enemy.

The result from California should serve as a warning to the Republican Party across the land about its encouragement of resistance to pandemic precautions. The epidemic receded in the bound but injure the political party'south fortunes when it reared its ugly head again tardily in the summer, while Republicans remained indifferent to the life-threatening threat.

Newsom'south resounding victory is a rousing validation of his aggressive fight against the deadly and destructive COVID-xix pandemic. The go out poll indicated that the electorate considered the pandemic the biggest problem facing the state. Four out of every v voters who prioritized the pandemic opposed the recall. About Californians thought

their governor's aggressive actions to control the plague were warranted. For instance, over 70 percent of the voters supported his mask mandate for schoolhouse students.

The widespread back up for his anti-pandemic programme should encourage President Biden Joe BidenSaudi Arabia invites Communist china's Xi to visit Riyadh: written report Biden attends in-person DNC fundraiser to tout climate agenda Homo charged with attempted murder, detest crimes after NY Asian woman punched 125 times More to keep his own major offensive confronting the illness. Voter validation of Newsom's achievements is also a repudiation of the failure of Republican policies that give aid and comfort to hardcore anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers who imperil the lives of their fellow Americans.

Govs. Ron DeSantis Ron DeSantisFlorida state legislature approves state's biggest budget always The Memo: Get set up for Biden vs. Trump all over again Florida lawmakers fail to pass prophylactic legislation after Surfside tragedy More than (R-Fla.) and Greg Abbott Greg AbbottTexas judge halts state investigation into parents of transgender youth DNC sends cookie cakes to GOP governors to celebrate American Rescue Programme anniversary More than than 27,000 mail ballots flagged for rejection in Texas primary MORE (R-Texas) could larn an important lesson from Newsom's success. California is a more populous state than either Texas or Florida merely daily COVID-nineteen deaths in the Great Bear Commonwealth are currently less than half of what they are under GOP chief executives in the Sunshine and Alone Star states. Newsom's success Tuesday too raises serious questions about Trump'due south death grip on his party.

When it became clear to voters in August that they could get rid of the governor and when the identity of the alternative emerged, the tide turned against the recall. At that point, the race became less a referendum on the governor'southward performance and more than a contest between Newsom and the presumptive Republican gubernatorial candidate, Elder. This dynamic was a disaster for the GOP.

There are millions of Republicans in California and the GOP could inappreciably have done worse than anoint him as the party'southward standard-bearer. But this is the age of Trump in the GOP, and the cream no longer rises to the superlative in what used to exist the party of Lincoln. Elder is a right-fly radio shock jock who trades in invective and insult. His groundwork made him the perfect Trumpian surrogate and a recipe for political disaster. The exit poll revealed that only a third of the voters liked him.

Like his mentor, Elder has insulted women on multiple occasions. He wrote, "Women know less than men most politics." Women proved him wrong when they came out in massive numbers confronting the call back.

Elder too likes bringing attention to himself with shocking statements more than than he favors engaging and reaching out to voters. He took a stand against whatever minimum wage in a state where it is already hard for working families to go on up with the cost of living.

He went out of his mode to imitate Trump and paid the price. As long as Republicans encourage Trump-like candidates, the GOP volition neglect to accept advantage of its opportunities in side by side year's congressional campaigns.

California notwithstanding sets national trends even though it isn't a bellwether state. Both parties can learn lessons from Newsom'south victory and the recall'due south failure. The midterm test is merely fourteen months away so there'southward still enough time for Democrats and Republicans to study. Republicans are in political peril if they fail to graduate from the California college of hard knocks.

Brad Bannon is a Democratic pollster and CEO of Bannon Communications Research. His podcast, Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon, airs on Periscope TV and the Progressive Voices Network. His Twitter handle is @BradBannon

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Source: https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/572572-california-dreaming-did-not-become-reality-for-republicans