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| By Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner |
Presented by Salesforce |
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Veteran political consultant Mike Madrid, right, speaks with POLITICO California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago during an event in Sacramento. | Lara Korte/POLITICO |
THE BUZZ: WINDS OF CHANGE — For years, veteran political consultant Mike Madrid has been sending up flares to the Democratic Party warning that they’re losing their sway with Latino voters. Now, in a new book, he explains why. "Until the Democratic Party reengages as the idea of who they think they are — which is an FDR, New Deal, working man's party — they're going to continue to lose votes,” he told POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago in Sacramento this week. Madrid, who helped found The Lincoln Project, said Trump could win in November with a record number of Latino votes. That’s largely due to failures in the Democratic Party, which doesn’t understand a group it always took to be a part of its base, said Madrid while discussing his new book: “The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy.” He pointed to a telling example: The name of President Joe Biden’s Latino outreach arm is called “Latinos con Biden-Harris.” While Trump is calling his outreach program simply "Latino Americans for Trump." Biden's approach reinforces the stereotype of the Latinos in the Democratic Party base — Spanish-speaking and recently migrated, Madrid said. Meanwhile, Republicans are speaking to third and fourth-generation Latino voters, which is the fastest-growing group. Eighty percent of new Latino voters, he added, are U.S-born. Most of them speak English as their primary language. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Latinos are on track to make up more than a quarter of the population by 2060 and could shape the next century of American democracy. It’s not just Democrats who have problems. Republicans are resistant to the “multiethnic future that is America’s destiny,” Madrid writes.
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Jim DeBoo, Gil Duran and Antonio Villaraigosa at a book signing for Mike Madrid in Sacramento. | Christopher Cadelago/POLITICO |
While the party has seen an increase in Latino support, it's not necessarily because of its leader. In fact, Madrid said, many Republicans — from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to Central Valley Rep. John Duarte — actually perform better with Latinos than Trump. “As much as we want to focus on the fact that these voters are moving toward the party headed by Donald Trump, the data tells me that if Trump was not in the way, you would see a much more significant shift to the right,” he said. Madrid also had some advice for California’s Latino legislators, who he said have much more power than they’re using. "Start thinking about being a majority. You are not a minority anymore. If you want to reform the education system. You can do it by next Tuesday. If you want to implement a Marshall Plan for housing, you can do it by next Wednesday,” he said. “You have a working majority of a pro-growth, aspirational, middle-class voting bloc. Act like it.” |
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GOOD MORNING. Happy Thursday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook.
You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
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 | STATE CAPITOL | |
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Democrats for pressuring retailers and district attorneys to withdraw their initiative to roll back parts of Proposition 47. | Ryan Sun/AP Photo |
TRYING TO HOLD THE LINE ON PROP 47 — Democratic lawmakers — with the exception of a handful of defectors — seem to be holding rank as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s aides and legislative leaders use hardball tactics to pressure supporters to withdraw a California ballot measure to enhance criminal penalties. Republicans are still seizing every opportunity to hammer Democrats for their leaning on retailers and district attorneys to withdraw their initiative to roll back parts of Proposition 47. The decade-old law reduced sentences for some drug and property crimes. On Wednesday, Democrats on the Assembly Appropriations Committee muscled through amendments to five anti-theft bills. The changes include an inoperability provision that would revoke the laws if voters approve the initiative in November. Republicans argue the tactic is a “poison pill” designed to get the measure off the ballot because it could have a spillover effect and help turnout conservative voters in tight congressional races. The anti-theft bills sailed through appropriations without any new Democratic defections. Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire are rushing to pass the bill package ahead of the June 27 deadline to remove initiatives from the ballot. Within minutes of the votes, the California Republican Party tweeted a video clip of Republican Assemblymember Kate Sanchez grilling Democratic state Sen. Dave Min about his support for the amendments. Min, who’s running for Congress in a battleground district in Orange County, hasn’t taken a stance on the Prop 47 rollback initiative, repeatedly suggesting he hasn’t “had time to review it.” Sanchez ripped Min over his stance, saying the “poison pill” amendments will prevent Republicans from supporting an anti-theft bill package that they backed otherwise. “You’ve turned what could have been a bipartisan accomplishment into political gamesmanship,” she said. Democrats have responded by arguing Republicans are focused on keeping the initiative on the ballot because they see it as a tool to gin up conservative voters. “Republicans are trying to make the inoperability (clauses) part of their political strategy looking toward November,” Appropriations Chair Buffy Wicks told Playbook. There was another wrinkle to Wednesday’s appropriations hearing: Democratic Assemblymembers Wendy Carrillo and Carlos Villapudua, two likely swing votes on the amended bill package, were absent. Assemblymember Marc Berman and Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry substituted for them, and voted for the package. Republicans called the switcheroo another example of gamesmanship. Wicks, however, dismissed the notion that there was any conspiracy at play. “That happens all the time,” she said of committee substitutions.
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| FOR GOOD MEASURE | |
COURT TO RULE ON TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT — California’s highest court is expected to rule this morning on whether the Taxpayer Protection Act, a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to pass some new taxes and fees, can appear on November’s ballot.
The measure, backed by the conservative California Business Roundtable and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, would require voter approval for statewide taxes passed by the Legislature and raise the voter approval threshold for some local taxes to two-thirds. Newsom challenged the measure in court as unconstitutional because it alters the basic structure of government by taking away taxation power from the administration and the Legislature. Were it to be booted from the ballot, the decision would fundamentally reshape the ballot measure landscape this election cycle. Since it’s expected to be this year’s most expensive ballot fight, removing it would have ripple effects as various interest groups invested in it shift money and attention to other proposals that remain — altering the dynamics around those fights, too. — Emily Schultheis
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| THE SCOOP | |
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A coalition of nonprofit organizations want Google's reps to be shut out of an effort to review California's antitrust laws. | Seth Wenig/AP |
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: COMMISSION CONFLICT — California’s Law Revision Commission is undergoing a lengthy process to determine if — and how — the state’s antitrust laws should be updated. One nonprofit group thinks a major tech player should stay out of it. In a letter to the commission this week, a coalition of organizations led by the American Economic Liberties Project expressed “deep concern” that the body had invited a Google representative to speak at today’s hearing in Sacramento, noting that the company has been found liable for antitrust law violations and urging the state body to retract its invitation. “Just as it would be inappropriate to invite a bank robber to recommend reforms to laws against robbing banks, we believe it is wholly inappropriate for Google to have a privileged voice in shaping the Commission’s recommendations regarding antitrust law,” the coalition wrote. Google’s Aaron Benjamin is scheduled to speak before the commission today following a report from one of the antitrust working groups on technology platforms. Also joining Benjamin are representatives from Yelp and the Chamber of Progress, which is funded, in part, by Google. Sharon Reilly, executive director of the Law Revision Commission, said inviting different perspectives to speak before the commission is part of the body’s mandate, and that members will solicit and listen to public comment over the course of the study. "We're willing to talk to anybody who wants to talk to us," she said. "There will be plenty of opportunities for public comment at commission meetings at all stages of the study." A spokesperson for Google said in a statement that the company “appreciates the Commission’s interest in hearing our experience with different approaches to competition from around the world.” The commission is still in its early stages of reviewing California’s antitrust law, and will present its findings and recommendations to the Legislature upon completion, at which point lawmakers can decide if they want to move forward with changes — which could be months or years away. |
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| ON THE AGENDA | |
FLOOR SESH — The state Senate and Assembly will hold floor sessions at 9 a.m.
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| TOP TALKERS | |
— Rishi Sunak’s $7.2 million California beach home is an alluring escape hatch as the British prime minister stares down a daunting July 4 snap election. (POLITICO) — California reached a $15 million settlement yesterday with Snapchat’s parent company over alleged sex discrimination. (POLITICO) — Disney employees are suing the company over a bungled move to open a new campus in Florida. (Los Angeles Times)
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| AROUND THE STATE | |
— The Sinaloa drug cartel worked with a ring of Chinese nationals to launder millions in illicit drug sales money back to Mexico, prosecutors say. (Los Angeles Times) — Embattled Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama applied to be the top cop in Austin, Texas. (Fresno Bee) — A recall effort against progressive Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has enough signatures for the November election ballot. (East Bay Times) — compiled by Tyler Katzenberger
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| PLAYBOOKERS | |
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Veteran Sacramento strategist Donna Lucas speaks with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other guests during a happy hour hosted by POLITICO. | Parker Collins for POLITICO |
SPOTTED: POLITICO HAPPY HOUR — Thanks to all the Sacramento folks who turned out for our Happy Hour on Tuesday evening, which drew a huge crowd of capital insiders to Fox & Goose Public House on R Street. Among those who partook for the festivities sponsored by Public Policy Holding Company: Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa … state Sen. Josh Becker … Assemblymember Ash Kalra … Donna Lucas … Patrick George … Paul Mitchell … Dustin Corcoran … Jack Ohman ... Josh Heller … Samantha Corbin … Richard Stapler … Gil Duran … Cynthia Moreno … Molly Robson … Mike Robson … Micah Flores … Daniel McGreevy … Monika Lee … Jay Wierenga … Rex Frazier … Alex Biering. Some extra snapshots from the party:
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Parker Collins for POLITICO |
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Parker Collins for POLITICO |
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 Parker Collins for POLITICO |
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Parker Collins for POLITICO |
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Parker Collins for POLITICO |
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 Parker Collins for POLITICO |
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| A message from Salesforce: AI is revolutionizing business, accelerating business, and even helping you plan your next vacation. But its safe deployment requires robust frameworks. That’s why Salesforce is building Trusted Enterprise AI, distinct from Consumer AI, and enhancing business operations through optimized supply chains, fraud prevention, and personalized customer service. Salesforce balances innovation with data privacy and security, ensuring that our Enterprise AI remains transparent and trustworthy. Nuanced AI regulations will help create an innovative, effective, and inclusive AI future. Learn more about how Salesforce is providing AI solutions that empower businesses while maintaining high standards of data protection and trust. Learn more. |
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PEOPLE MOVES — June McIvor has joined Invenergy as the community engagement manager for the Even Keel Wind offshore wind project off of the Central Coast.
— Jean Guerrero has joined the Latina Futures 2050 Lab as a senior journalism fellow. She was previously a columnist at the Los Angeles Times and is now a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times. BIRTHDAYS — Tom Steel, legislative director for Sen. Becker … Tom Zigo of the MPA … Vic Grace BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Wednesday): First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom … Sean Coffey of the California Policy Lab … Meisha Angelini of MGA Entertainment...Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) … Andrew Perlman ... Jay Sanderson ... Kenneth Lipper … Tom Hoare WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO’s California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form. Disclaimer: All information will be verified. 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. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Rebecca Haase to find out how: rhaase@politico.com. |
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