October 2021 Newsletter Articles

CAGOP Builds Foundation for 2022 Elections

California Republicans resolved to build on the foundation established during the 2021 recall to win elections in 2022.  In an upbeat convention, CAGOP delegates heard about the progress made and lessons learned during the recent recall election.

• • • Trained volunteers contacted millions of voters during the recall using updated technology platforms and data that are now available to candidates and county parties.
    • 40% of Hispanic voters supported the recall, giving California Republican candidates a great opportunity to broaden their appeal in 2022.
    • Working with county parties, the CAGOP ran the most extensive election integrity program in recent history.
    • Relationships were built with county registrars so that election integrity issues could be addressed quickly and efficiently.
    • Voters had an opportunity to report questionable activities which were quickly identified and addressed during the voting process.
    • In a few cases, the CAGOP is exploring litigation to prevent questionable practices observed during the election.
    • The Republican National Committee engaged more significantly in California than ever before, establishing early operations in battleground districts and providing funding for election integrity activities and litigation.
    • Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, Attorney General and Controller were active throughout the convention, hosting receptions and meeting with delegates.

This was the first in-person convention since the beginning of the pandemic, and each delegate had the choice to attend in person or participate via proxy.   Efforts to reduce or eliminate proxy voting were defeated in committee and on the floor in order to make sure all delegate voices are heard, regardless of their health condition, financial situation, work obligations or family responsibilities.

CAGOP Sets Endorsement Process For 2022 Statewide Races

At its fall 2021 Convention, the CAGOP adopted changes to the pre-primary endorsement process for statewide races to incorporate lessons learned from the recall.

The CAGOP announced that it will hold its Spring Convention on April 22-24 at the Anaheim Marriott in Southern California.  According to existing rules, pre-primary endorsements will be considered at that convention.

The nomination process for statewide pre-primary endorsements is now identical to the nomination process the party employed for the recall.

• • • Statewide candidates must be nominated by 200 delegates
    • Delegates may nominate multiple candidates for the same office
    • The nominations may be submitted electronically using the secure CRP endorsement portal and a unique identifier
    • There is no longer a requirement that nominations come from certain regions
    • There is no longer a requirement for nominations from CRP board members

The result is a more open nomination process in which delegates have the power to determine which candidates they want to appear and make their case at the spring 2022 convention.

Redistricting Deadline Set For December 27

The California Supreme Court has set a December 27 deadline for adoption of new Legislative and Congressional Districts by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

According to Fabian Valdez of Redistricting Insights, labor groups had requested an extension of the process in order to give their members more time to engage with the commission following the holiday season.  The Supreme Court, which had already extended the deadline to account for the delay in receiving updated census data, declined to make any further extension.  This means we should see new districts proposed by November.

Valdez encouraged all those who have views about their own communities of interest to let the commission know by using the commission’s community input website drawmycacommunity.org.

Valdez also speculated on some of the likely results of the new redistricting process:

• • As the percentage of Hispanic and Asian population in California has increased since 2010, we are likely to see many more voting rights act districts drawn to increase minority representation.
  • A large number of Democrat members of Congress who are 70 years of age or older may choose to retire rather than run in new districts or against fellow Democrats.
  • Los Angeles has lost population relative the rest of the state and will likely lose districts, while the central valley has gained population and may gain representation.
  • Counties north of Sacramento have lost population relative to the rest of the state and those northern districts will expand southward.

Once draft districts are proposed, it is still possible to provide comments and feedback on those districts by using the commission website drawmycacommunity.org.

It’s not over ‘til it’s over!