Innovative Tactics and Teamwork Change the Game in Sacramento
California Republican legislative and party leaders won a significant victory for public safety – despite their super-minority status in the State Assembly. Their coordinated actions provide an example of how the California GOP can effectively impact policy and improve lives for all Californians.
Assembly Bill 379, which seeks to curb sex trafficking by, in part, increasing the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for soliciting 16- or 17-year-olds for sex, was heard in the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee on April 29. There, the Democratic members argued that increasing this penalty would disproportionately harm Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ communities, and they successfully stripped the provision from the bill. The California Republican Party’s communications team was present in the hearing room and live-posted video clips throughout, showing Californians the Democrats’ misguided policies—in their own words.
Then, on Thursday, May 1, the Assembly Republican Caucus dramatically brought AB 379, with an amendment to reintroduce the felony penalty, to a vote of the full Assembly. After a heated debate, nearly every Democratic Assemblymember voted against it. Once again, the California Republican Party’s communications team live-posted video clips of Republican members fighting to protect children and Democrats choosing politics over people. That afternoon, California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin challenged the team to go big in holding Democrats accountable.
The next day, Friday, the Party’s communications shop had an approved script for a “They Not Like Us” video ad campaign. By Saturday, the team had recruited three teenage girls ages 16- and 17 to go on camera and call out the Democrats. On Sunday, the team recorded 54 video variations, one for each Democratic Assemblymember who voted against AB 379. Then, at noon on Tuesday, Sacramento’s NBC affiliate KCRA broke the story through its political reporter Ashley Zavala, and CAGOP began publishing the video ads.
From May 6 to May 14, the CAGOP communications team published 27 of the videos across X, Instagram, Facebook, and used the campaign to launch Party’s presence on Bluesky, the Democrats’ alternative to the Musk-owned X. The campaign targeted Democratic Assemblymembers throughout the state, including many in safe seats who are not used to being held accountable for their votes.
Then, on May 15, Democrats reintroduced AB 379 with the increased penalties for solicitation on the Assembly floor for a full vote, where it passed. It’s now headed to the State Senate and, eventually, Governor Newsom, who has publicly said he will sign it. If the Senate doesn’t pass it or the Governor doesn’t sign it, they know they will be held accountable.
This effort was made possible by the overwhelming and persistent campaign led by the California Republican Party and the Assembly Republican Caucus. They deserve the gratitude and support of all Californians.
