A test for parental rights in California

Inside the Golden State political arena

Oct 17, 2023 View in browser   By Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner ACLU march participants rally in support of rights for transgender people and drag performers during the 2023 LA Pride Parade in Hollywood. | Getty Images THE BUZZ: Two conservative school board members who kicked out their superintendent and championed a measure to notify parents about transgender students may be on the verge of being removed — by parents. Opponents of Orange Unified School District Trustees Madison Miner and Rick Ledesma are expected to soon qualify a recall effort for the ballot, setting up a test of whether this year’s hot button culture war issue has staying power in California. Backers of the recall, led by parent Darshan Smaaladen, appear to have met the threshold to get the recall on the ballot pending a final evaluation expected in the coming days. As our colleague Blake Jones writes, the effort signifies trouble for not just Miner and Ledesma, but also a batch of newly seated Republican school boards in Southern California that have embraced cultural wedge issues in recent months. Organizers of a similar recall campaign in Temecula, where trustees also fired the superintendent and adopted a new transgender student policy, have until Dec. 8 to qualify a recall election in that city northeast of San Diego. At least five districts have adopted similar rules, which require teachers and schools to notify parents when a child asks to use a name or pronoun that doesn't align with the gender listed on official documents. The efforts are heavily backed by Christian conservatives, who cast the policies as “parental rights.” But as Blake wrote about earlier this year, they are often backed by small groups of fringe, right-wing activists and in some cases have frustrated parents who are dismayed to see their districts morph into culture war battlegrounds.  In Orange, Ledesma won reelection to the board last fall, and Miner secured a first term — flipping the board and establishing a 4-3 conservative majority in a politically contested district. They fired the district superintendent without cause in January, just after taking office. Chino megachurch pastor Jack Hibbs helped craft the policy adopted by the Orange school board, Miner previously told POLITICO. He used his church's political arm, Real Impact, to help propel Miner and Ledesma into office. LGBTQ groups argue the policies are a clear attack on vulnerable transgender youth, and the efforts have elicited litigation from top cop Rob Bonta, but the Democratic lawmakers have waffled on a response. Members of the Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus had discussed introducing a bill this session to reverse what they called “forced outing” policies, but amid concerns about messaging, and a bit of pushback from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, they decided to address it next year. If other districts go the same way as Orange, they may not have to. GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday.  PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — What surprised you the most about Newsom’s bill vetoes this session? Give us a ring or drop us a line. Now you can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte  WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.   GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.     FRESH INK Rudy Salas speaks at a hearing. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — THE RUDY TRAIN: Sen. Alex Padilla is endorsing Rudy Salas in his House primary that may not be all that competitive after all. In Padilla’s endorsement, he called Salas “a true champion for Valley families.” Padilla continued, “Rudy comes from humble beginnings, working in the fields with his family – and I know he will never forget his roots.” Salas, a Bakersfield Democrat, has been vacuuming up support as he aims for a rematch with Republican Rep. David Valadao. Salas has not only cornered the market on endorsements in California, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Controller Malia Cohen, schools chief Tony Thurmond, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, he’s gobbled them up from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Whip Katherine Clark. Salas won the backing of SEIU California, United Farm Workers and building trades locals. And he’s building a sizable lead in the Democratic money chase: As of the end of September, Salas had about $158,000 compared with Democratic rival Melissa Hurtado, a state senator, who ended the third quarter with just over $33,000, and $27,000 in debts owed. — Christopher Cadelago DATA DUMP — To make sense of California politics, you’ve got to — or ought to — understand what drives Latino voters. A new tool from the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute aims to help. The Latino Data Hub, a project three years in the making that debuts today, is a free tool in English and Spanish that breaks down information on Latinos in California and nationwide on a granular level. Users will be able to sort census data by 130 different characteristics — including education level, health insurance status, country of origin and access to a smartphone — with the hopes that, as director of research Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas put it, “everybody can easily embrace the complexity of Latinos in United States.” The goal of the project is to help policy makers be better equipped to address specific needs and give community groups the access to data that bolsters their mission. But Dominguez-Villegas also sees an application in the political realm. The hub tracks the number of Latinos eligible to vote, as well those who actually cast a ballot. Understanding the characteristics of who is in the first group but not the second could be revelatory for political campaigns. “There’s a discordance between what people say in an opinion poll and what they’re living in their everyday lives,” Dominguez-Villegas said. “What we provide is what they are going through…that’s very different from what an opinion poll will tell you.” — Melanie Mason   Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here.     WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY ORDER UP — Hollywood is continuing to languish as talks stall between SAG-AFTRA and big studios. To make ends meet, some actors are reprising a classic role: food service. (The New York Times) CENTER STAGE — Laphonza Butler has quickly become one of the biggest names in politics, but it wasn’t always that way. How California’s newest senator spent years as a powerful behind-the-scenes operator. (Los Angeles Times) CALIFORNIA JAILS — The family of Maurice Monk has filed a wrongful death suit against officials in Alameda County after they say he died because staff at the Santa Rita jail in Dublin ignored Monk lying face down in his cell for three days. (The Washington Post) 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 Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner Lara Korte @lara_korte POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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