California Republicans’ Trump dilemma deepens

May 30, 2024

Close-up shot of former President Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. | AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool

PARTISAN PLAYBACK: California Democrats were ebullient and Republicans largely kept quiet this afternoon after a New York jury delivered a historic verdict, convicting former President Donald Trump in a hush-money trial.

Trump has virtually no chance of winning deep-blue California’s electoral votes. But control of the House could hinge on a half-dozen competitive California districts, several of which are represented by vulnerable Republicans. Trump’s trajectory could swing those races.

Democrats were conspicuously more eager to weigh in than Republicans — a reflection of the tricky politics frontline the GOP has to navigate in California. While Senate frontrunner Rep. Adam Schiff called the outcome a confirmation of “Trump’s unfitness for office,” his Republican challenger Steve Garvey did not have a response, like many other members of his party.

For one Republican who did weigh in, the verdict offered an opportunity to align with Trump by assailing the trial as a partisan distraction. Former state Assemblymember Scott Baugh, who is running for the Orange County seat Democratic Rep. Katie Porter vacated this year, denounced the “political prosecution.” His opponent, Democratic state Sen. Dave Min, echoed others on his side of the aisle by calmly calling the verdict “a win for the rule of law and our democracy.”

Some other Democrats could try to tie their Republican foes to the verdict. “Donald Trump was held accountable for his crimes today,” Democrat Derek Tran, who is challenging Rep. Michelle Steel, said in a statement. “This November, his Delegate Michelle Steel will be held accountable for her corruption.” Steel’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Many Democrats openly exulted in the outcome. “#34 is my new favorite number,” state Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire said on X, a reference to the number of counts on which Trump was convicted.

“How’s that chant go that he used to lead at rallies?” quipped Rep. Robert Garcia.

California Democrats have diverged in recent months on how to respond to Trump's legal woes. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who hadn’t commented by press time, rebuffed calls to explore stripping Trump from the ballot in California, arguing that “we defeat candidates at the polls” — the same message that President Joe Biden offered today.

IT’S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to jwhite@politico.com.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, chair of the Assembly Budget committee, smiles as a measure to reduce the state deficit is approved the Assembly at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 11, 2024 | AP

MOVING’ ON UP — The Assembly Budget Committee wasted no time advancing its joint budget package this morning, adopting the proposal less than 24 hours after announcing a deal with the state Senate.

The budget deal, as we reported Wednesday, rejects many of Newsom’s proposed cuts to social programs, climate initiatives and homelessness spending while also leaning less on the state’s reserves.

Members also floated ideas for reducing the volatility of California’s tax revenues. Avelino Valencia, chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight, said he plans to introduce a constitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot that would allow the state to hold more money in reserve during revenue booms and make changes to a disco-era spending limit.

It was also the first hearing for newly-appointed Budget Vice Chair Heath Flora, who replaced Congressmember-elect Vince Fong as the top Republican on the panel.

Erika Li, with the governor’s Department of Finance, said the administration is still reviewing the legislative plan but is “very much encouraged.”

It’s a particularly tough budget year, especially for the new set of legislative leaders. Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel heaped praise on lawmakers and staffers — giving a special shoutout to Assembly budget director Jason Sisney, whom Gabriel called the “Tom Brady” of budgeting, and chief consultant Christian Griffith, whom he dubbed the “Patrick Mahomes” of the budget.

The only remaining question is: Who is the Taylor Swift of the Assembly Budget Committee? Send us your guesses. — Lara Korte

ON THE BEATS

HEALTH TAX UPDATE: Fellow health nerds rejoice. We have the Legislature’s answer on Newsom’s proposal to balance the budget with (among other things) the proceeds from the tax on some health plans: Rejected.

A budget deal cut last year secured billions of dollars for Medi-Cal, including funds to bolster doctor pay, public hospitals and emergency care starting in 2025.

When Newsom went back on that deal in his May proposal, hoping to redirect those dollars to close the budget gap, legislators balked. Lawmakers are instead proposing to delay some of the proposed Medi-Cal spending until 2026, saving the state some money without fully abandoning the original proposal. — Rachel Bluth

SWITCHEROO: Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli has been bumped off a committee assignment. Again.

Essayli will leave the Judiciary Committee for the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, swapping places with fellow Republican Joe Patterson. A frequent critic and legislative antagonist, Essayli posted on X today that he was being punished for trying to force a vote on his Assembly Bill 2641, which would have required law enforcement to cooperate with immigration enforcement authorities when someone was convicted of a sex crime against a minor.

That’s not entirely accurate, according to Nick Miller, the communications director for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. Miller pointed to an X post of Essayli’s in which he called another lawmaker a “pedophile protector” for voting against the bill.

“Venomous attacks and malignant lies that target our elected officials may seem innocuous. But in this day and age, they are truly dangerous,” Miller said. “The Speaker feels a personal responsibility to improve safety for all Californians, including those who serve, and there is zero tolerance for disinformation assaults against his colleagues, which can do real harm to members and their families.”

This isn’t the first time Rivas has moved Essayli around. In March, Essayli was bumped from the Budget Committee after publicly feuding with Gabriel, its chair. — Rachel Bluth

What We're Reading

— California’s prison population dropped nearly 4 percent between 2021 and 2022, new data shows. The state still houses the second-highest prison population in the country. (Newsweek)

— A judge weighing evidence in Scott Peterson’s last-ditch bid for exoneration ruled that a piece of duct tape could be retested for DNA. (Los Angeles Times)

— Three of the nation’s five least affordable cities are in California: Los Angeles tops the list, with Irvine in third and Long Beach in fifth. (Fox 11)

AROUND THE STATE

— Fremont is the best place to raise a family in the country, according to a new ranking based on housing costs, recreation opportunities, local schools and health care institutions. (The Sacramento Bee)

— The late son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki had high concentrations of Xanax , cocaine, amphetamine and hydroxyzine in his system at the time of his death, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said. (San Francisco Chronicle)

— Disneyland’s character and parade performers are officially unionized. The roughly 1,7000 workers joined the Actors’ Equity Association, which already represents theatrical performers at Disney’s Florida parks. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

— compiled by Ariel Gans

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