CAGOP COMPLETES ENDORSEMENTS FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE
Businessman and former Fox News host Steve Hilton received the endorsement of President Donald Trump in the race for California Governor. At the April CAGOP convention, delegates endorsed candidates for the remaining statewide offices, however no candidate for Governor received more than 50% of the vote.
To be endorsed, candidates had to be nominated by at least 200 CAGOP delegates and receive 60% or more of the delegate votes at the convention’s general session. Only the races for Governor, Insurance Commissioner and Treasurer were contested by more than one candidate.
Stacy Korsgaden received the endorsement for California State Insurance Commissioner with 74% of the vote. Korsgaden is a longtime insurance professional from California’s Central Coast. She vows to increase competition in California’s insurance markets which she argues will result in more choices and lower costs for California’s residents.
California Federation of Republican Women leader Jennifer Hawks was endorsed for California State Treasurer on the 2nd ballot. She received 58% of the vote on the first ballot, just short of the required supermajority. State Senator Tony Strickland called for a second ballot which resulted in a 68% supermajority for Hawks.
In the remaining races, only one candidate received the required number of delegate nominations. Each of those candidates was endorsed overwhelmingly by the delegates.
Former California State Senator Gloria Romero received the endorsement for Lt. Governor. Her compelling story as an education reformer and former Democrat Senate Majority Leader who left the party and ultimately became a Republican has resonated with Republican activists across the state.
Former Newport Beach City Attorney and Justice Department official Michael Gates received the endorsement for California Attorney General. Gates promises to use the power of the Attorney General’s office to “make crime illegal again” and reduce the billions of dollars of waste and fraud in California.
Former financial executive Herb Morgan was endorsed for California State Controller. Active in San Diego’s pension reform efforts, he served as President of the San Diego City Employees Retirement System from 2009 to 2013.
Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner received the endorsement for California Secretary of State. A former California State Assemblyman, he has served as Mayor of Irvine California and as Judge Pro Tempore of the Orange County Superior Court.
Sonja Shaw was endorsed for California Superintendent of Public Instruction. She currently serves as president of the Chino Valley Unified School District. Shaw led the fight to implement a parental notification policy within the district that became a statewide model for other districts.
Over 1000 delegates, associate delegates and guests attended the convention at the newly renovated San Diego Sheraton resort. The convention featured Senator Ted Cruz at the Saturday dinner, Congressmen Darrell Issa, Tom McClintock and Jay Obernolte on a panel moderated by former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer at Saturday brunch, and a cruise on San Diego Bay with GOP state legislators on Friday evening.
A series of training sessions were held throughout the weekend covering such topics as use of artificial intelligence in campaigns, the new Vottiv campaign management system, and campaign crisis management.
The next CAGOP convention will be held February 26-28 in Sacramento where the party will elect new officers for the 2027-28 campaign cycle.