News : McCarthy’s still in the CAGOP’s good graces

Monday, April 25, 2022

McCarthy’s still in the CAGOP’s good graces

Apr 25, 2022

By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White, Chris Ramirez and Juhi Doshi

Presented by Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support

THE BUZZ: GOP House Leader Kevin McCarthy's covert bashing of former President Donald Trump hasn't lost him the support of California Republicans. Most of them, anyway.

The state party gathered in Anaheim this weekend to rally ahead of a midterm that is widely expected to go well for Republicans. But between the candidate booths and the merch tables lined with bedazzled Trump hats, few members seemed concerned that, just days earlier, The New York Times had revealed audio of the state's top Republican saying he would ask Trump to quit in the immediate wake of the Jan. 6 riots.

California GOP Chair Jessica Millan Patterson spoke to reporters early Friday evening and affirmed her support for McCarthy. At the dinner reception later that night, both Patterson and guest speaker South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott plugged support for McCarthy.

It's hard to know how such statements could affect his shot at the House speakership, given that the representatives who'd make that decision haven't been elected yet. But Republican National Committee member Harmeet Dhillon was skeptical.

"I don't think what he said, or is reported to have said will affect people's opinion here in this room," she told us at the convention. (Dhillon said she started to listen to the audio but then "moved on to something else.")

The big show was Saturday, when McCarthy was keynote speaker. Aside from reiterating his admiration for Trump and lobbing some vague shots at the media (including MSNBC, which aired the damning audio) the minority leader didn't address last week's revelations, and rapidly left the ballroom without giving journalists a chance to ask questions.

The events of the past few days have highlighted an ongoing tension in the California Republican Party over just how important the former president is to delegates and voters. With gas prices soaring and rising feelings of unease over crime spreading across the state, the GOP has ample opportunities to deflect rhetoric around Trump or Jan. 6 and focus blame on incumbent Democrats.

But there are those in the party who still harbor a strong loyalty to Trump. And even though the former president told the Wall Street Journal that McCarthy's remarkshadn't damaged their good relationship, the Bakersfield Republican's words still drew the ire of some delegates.

Eric Early, a GOP candidate for California attorney general and longtime Trump backer, wasn't surprised by McCarthy's comments: "I have questioned for years whether [McCarthy] really has supported Donald Trump or not," he said.

But right before taking the stage Saturday night, McCarthy endorsed Early's challenger, Republican Nathan Hochman, who ultimately won out for the party's endorsement overall (more on that below).

BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. Lawmakers are back in session today, and are up against a clock to pass two critical parts of Gov. Gavin Newsom's gas tax relief proposal before the end of the month.

Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "People like Joe Biden, they know he's a good man, but their personal reality is defined by what they're seeing at the pump." Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on a visit to California, via FOX LA.

TWEET OF THE DAY: The LA Times' Seema Mehta @LATSeema: "Rachel Hamm, a GOP Secretary of State at @CAGOP candidates' forum, just told delegates to disregard the calls they received claiming she was a 'Satanic witch.' Assures them she is a faithful Christian." (More on that here).

WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

A message from Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support:

Our initiative is the only one on the November ballot that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year to fight homelessness and fund mental health and addiction treatment in California. Nearly half of the country has legalized online sports betting, proving states can do so safely and responsibly - and generate significant tax revenue. Add your name to support a permanent funding solution to address California's homelessness crisis.

Top Talkers

— "California Dems are eyeing Feinstein's seat — but they're not talking about it," by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White: "Pushing her to the exits before 2024 could backfire on the ambitious Democrats who would like to claim her mantle. Even as Feinstein has slid to a career polling nadir, no one wants to draw opposition from her political sphere or cause her to endorse a rival."

NOT YET … "After California postponed its COVID vaccine mandate for kids, experts ponder: Will shots ever be required? " by the SF Chronicle's Erin Allday: "Uptake has been especially low in communities of color, raising concerns that mandates would disproportionately affect Black and brown families by preventing their children from attending school."

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CAMPAIGN MODE

A BIG ONE — "Chesa Boudin is many things. Incompetent isn't one of them. Vote no on recall," by the SF Chronicle's editorial board.

GOP ENDORSEMENTS: After declining to endorse a gubernatorial candidate in the recall last year, the CAGOP delegates on Sunday voted to back state Sen. Brian Dahle in his bid to overthrow Newsom (afterfive rounds of voting). Other endorsees from the weekend included: Mark Meuser for U.S. Senate, Lance Christensen for superintendent of public instruction, Nathan Hochman for attorney general, Lanhee Chen for controller, and Angela Underwood Jacobs for lieutenant governor.

— Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta is in Sacramento today to speak about public safety at the annual Survivors Speak California rally, expected to draw hundreds of crime survivors.

— "Time to get a handle on the S.F. redistricting debacle," via the SF Examiner's editorial board.

— "Matt Haney shows S.F. progressives how to win instead of whine," opines the SF Examiner's Gil Duran: "With his big lead over Campos, Haney had the breathing room to run a positive campaign. Campos, on the other hand, took a scorched earth approach against his former ally. The desperate antics backfired."

A message from Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support:

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

ON STRIKE — "Stanford nurses announce they will strike," by the Mercury News' George Kelly: "A union representing nurses at Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital announced that it will begin a strike Monday, in advance of a formal bargaining session on Tuesday with hospital representatives."

WATER WOES — "Drought boon or boondoggle? Critics blast Poseidon desalination plan as crucial vote looms, " by the LA Times' Ian James: "Activists who oppose the project have pointed to the findings of a recent study by the Pacific Institute, which found that investing in existing technologies and standard water-saving practices could improve efficiency to reduce California's urban water use between 30% and 48%."

DIGGING DEEPER — " Did S.F. deliver on promise to redirect $120 million from law enforcement to Black community?" by the SF Chronicle's Mallory Moench: " The Police Department's total $657 million budget, which also gets funding from other sources, did decrease, but that was mainly because of cuts of officers at the airport."

— " 3 Southern California sheriffs say state lawmakers hurting cops' efforts to improve public safety," by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune's Brian Rokos: "Metro and the 14 'woke' members of its public safety committee, Villanueva said, do not allow deputies to arrest most troublemakers on the trains."

S.O.S. — " East Bay leaders urge Gov. Newsom to keep funds for homelessness in state budget," by the SF Chronicle's Sarah Ravani: "Overall, Oakland has used the funds to house 1,350 formerly homeless individuals, [Mayor Libby Schaaf] said."

HARDEST HIT — " L.A. County homeless deaths surged 56% in pandemic's first year. Overdoses are largely to blame," by the LA Times' Christian Martinez and Rong-Gong Lin: "The pandemic likely exacerbated an already growing overdose issue, driven primarily by the prevalence of fentanyl, by making it more difficult for people experiencing homelessness to access care."

— " With more enforcement power than ever, state relies on activists to enforce duplex law," by CalMatters' Manuela Tobias: "No one knows how many permits cities have issued statewide to split a lot or build a duplex, as that information is not tracked in any centralized database. Nor is there a centralized way to track the slew of local ordinances cities have passed to limit its use, state officials told CalMatters."

TRASHY TIMES — "Tijuana trash is flooding into San Diego. Here's the $60,000 fix," by the San Diego Union-Tribune's Joshua Emerson Smith: "The group reported this week that it has trapped roughly 73,000 pounds of trash in the boom so far, much of which has been sold to a recycling company."

CLASSROOM CONFLICT — "S.F. teacher used a cotton plant to teach about slavery. The fallout has divided parents," by the SF Chronicle's Jill Tucker: "The situation there has divided the school's largely liberal community at a time when states like Texas and Florida are banning classroom discussion of America's racist past altogether."

DIP IN ENROLLMENT — "A new chapter for charter schools in California as enrollment drops for first time in 3 decades ," by EdSource's John Fensterwald: "Charter school enrollment in California declined this year for the first time after three decades of steady, and in some years, staggering growth. Does this signify a pandemic blip, retrenchment or an inflection point for charter schools?"

RIGHT NEXT DOOR … " Wildfires Burn More Than 150,000 Acres in Three States," by NYT's Jesus Jiménez and Farah Eltohamy.

— "LA Mayoral Candidates Bass, Caruso Back 'CARE Court' Plan ," by NBC4's Conan Nolan: "The CARE Court plan, proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, would allow a third party -- such as a family member -- to seek court-ordered intervention on behalf of an individual suffering from severe mental illness."

JOIN US ON 4/29 FOR A WOMEN RULE DISCUSSION ON WOMEN IN TECH : Women, particularly women of color and women from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, have historically been locked out of the tech world. But this new tech revolution could be an opportunity for women to get in on the ground floor of a new chapter. Join POLITICO for an in-depth panel discussion on the future of women in tech and how to make sure women are both participating in this fast-moving era and have access to all it offers. REGISTER HERE.

SILICON VALLEYLAND

IS IT HAPPENING? — "Twitter, Elon Musk Are in Talks to Strike a Deal," by WSJ's Cara Lombardo and Dana Cimilluca: "The two sides met Sunday to discuss Mr. Musk's proposal and were making progress, though still had issues to hash out. … There [is] no guarantee they will reach a deal.

— "Europe to slap new regulations on Big Tech, beating U.S. to the punch," by WaPo's Cat Zakrzweski: "The Digital Services Act was first proposed in 2020, but discussion about the responsibilities of tech companies to oversee their platforms have taken on greater urgency amid the war in Ukraine, as policymakers watched Russia use its social media megaphone to sow propaganda about its invasion."

MIXTAPE

— "'It's all just a mess': Why locals can't go to Coachella," by SFGATE's Ariana Bindman.

— "Stanford employee sentenced to prison in MacBook theft ring that cost the university millions," by the SF Chronicle's Annie Vainshtein.

GUY'S FROM SOCAL — " Man charged with threatening to bomb dictionary offices, kill employees in anti-transgender rant," by the New York Daily News' Muri Assunção.

— " Watch poet Amanda Gorman's first public performance since the inauguration," by the LA Times' Steve Saldivar and Jireh Deng.

— "Muni Stays Free for All San Francisco Youth Under Expanded Pilot—for Now, " by the SF Standard's Ida Mojadad.

SHE'S A LOCAL — "California Cat With Big, Endearing Eyes and Wonky Feet Will Become Temporary 'Mayor of Hell,'" by People Magazine's Giovana Gelhoren.

IN MEMORIAM

— "Long-serving Utah US Senator Orrin Hatch dies at age 88," by the AP's Lindsay Whitehurst.

BIRTHDAYS

Monday: POLITICO's Alex Nieves …

Was Sunday: Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) … Ruth Guerra … PayPal's Megan Hannigan … Maura Murnane …

Was Saturday: Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) … Tim Lim … NTIA's Doug Brake … Chevron's Jennifer Smith … Gideon Lett ... Kal Penn.

A message from Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support:

Our initiative is the only one on the November ballot that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year to fight homelessness and fund mental health and addiction treatment in California. Nearly half of the country has legalized online sports betting, proving states can do so safely and responsibly - and generate significant tax revenue. Our initiative will also provide millions each year and new economic opportunities for California Tribal nations. Add your name to support a permanent funding solution to address California's homelessness crisis.

CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here.

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