A short-timer poised to lead California Senate

Aug 28, 2023

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THEY LIKE MIKE: Sen. Mike McGuire just authored the latest episode in a season of California succession drama.

The North Coast Democrat made his play to succeed outgoing Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, telling colleagues he’d secured a majority of the Democratic caucus after a frenetic weekend of making calls and whipping votes, as was first reported here. Senate Democrats caucused after floor session on Monday.

An approaching 2024 term limit rendered Atkins’ departure inevitable, so this was always a matter of who and when. Timing can be everything in leadership battles — you call the vote when you have the votes — and McGuire, who helped steer Atkins’ ship as majority leader, struck before fellow Democratic aspirants.

Senate Democrats had no interest in reprising their Assembly counterparts’ vitriolic leadership brawl, in which Robert Rivas replaced Anthony Rendon as speaker after a protracted and very public struggle. The Senate maneuvering was comparatively quiet until McGuire hit the accelerator in recent days, preempting contenders like Sens. Monique Limón, John Laird and María Elena Durazo.

But by elevating McGuire, Senate Democrats would effectively elect to do this again soon: McGuire has to leave office at the end of 2026. That short tenure all but ensures the jockeying for the next Senate leader would continue, almost uninterrupted, under a Pro Tem McGuire.

State Sen. Mike McGuire is trying to succeed outgoing Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins. | AP

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

FALL FROM GRACE: Mark Ridley-Thomas’ steep slide from political power player to convicted felon reached its nadir today, when a federal judge sentenced him to three and a half years in prison after his conviction on corruption charges.

Even in a city that has seen its fair share of scandal in recent years, Ridley-Thomas’ downfall is a stunning turn of events for a politician whose resume included stints in the Assembly, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the City Council.

Before a courtroom packed with supporters (including Cornel West, per Spectrum News reporter Kate Cagle), Ridley-Thomas expressed regret for soliciting favors from USC on behalf of his son, former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. But he maintained that he did not think those actions were illegal.

Judge Dale S. Fischer’s sentence stops short of the six years prosecutors sought; she also imposed a $30,000 fine. Ridley-Thomas was ordered to surrender to prison on Nov. 13, one week after his birthday. — Melanie Mason

SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes.

ON THE BEATS

NOT THIS YEAR: Legislation countering conservative school boards’ “forced outing” policies won’t come until at least January, according to LGBTQ Caucus member Chris Ward’s office.

The caucus is “continuing to refine our legislative approach in this two-year session” and is working with the governor and other stakeholders on the bill, Ward said in a statement.

At least four California school boards in recent weeks have passed rules requiring staff to tell parents if their child is transgender or nonbinary. Newsom previously acknowledged that he was discussing a legislative response with the LGBTQ caucus. Bill language hasn’t been introduced yet. Waiting until January would allow the local policies to stay in place as students start the school year — unless they’re frozen in court as Attorney General Rob Bonta mounts a legal challenge. The AG this morning announced he’s suing Chino Valley Unified — the first district in the state to pass such a policy — over its rule. — Blake Jones

CASTE BILL PASSES: A contentious bill that would make California the first state to explicitly outlaw caste discrimination passed the Assembly this afternoon. The legislation by state Sen. Aisha Wahab, which passed 50-3, has been one of the most controversial proposals of the session. Supporters want caste protections explicitly listed in statute, but opponents contend that the word “caste” — an ancient social hierarchy system associated historically with South Asia — would single out the South Asian community, unlike the other protected categories under the state’s Civil Rights Act.

Committee hearings were among the most attended of the session, with people lining the hallways for hours of public testimony. “This bill demonstrates California’s leadership on issues of civil rights and continues this Legislature’s tradition of increasing protection against hate,” Assemblymember Damon Connolly said on the floor. The bill now goes back to the Senate for a final vote. — Eric He

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AROUND CALIFORNIA

—Pacific Gas & Electric is out today with a warning that it may have to shut down power in some parts of Northern California on Wednesday because of increased fire risk amid dry and windy conditions, with projected gusts of 30 to 45 mph around Lake Shasta and the western Sacramento Valley.

— Surf's up: A new study finds that severe weather driven by climate change is causing bigger and more damaging waves along the California coast, which will likely result in more erosion and flooding in the state.

— San Francisco is frequently cited as Exhibit A on the subject of the urban doom loop — including in a planned walking tour led by a city official who now says it was meant as a joke — but it turns out that economists are more concerned with midsize cities such as Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Memphis as work-from-home cuts into the commercial real estate market.

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MIXTAPE

— “Louis Lappe’s walk-off home run lifts El Segundo to Little League World Series title,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Eric Sondheimer

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