menu_open Columnists
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

I know what California needs to solve its problems. A Republican.

25 0
02.04.2026

I love visiting California. It's sunny and beautiful. Whether strolling through Hollywood or along the beach, it feels like everything is possible.

But that feeling is short-lived. I'd never want to live there.

Progressive policies sanctioned by the Democratic Party or Gov. Gavin Newsom have slowly eroded California's burgeoning potential into a wasteland of high taxes, debt, and unresolved crises such as homeless, infrastructure and affordability. As a result, companies are moving and so are residents.

The state needs new policies that could reshape its future, and conservative politicians may have discovered a way to position themselves for greater influence. Democrats destroyed California. Could a Republican save it?

California has a long list of problems. Republicans can fix them.

The Democratic Party in California has held a supermajority ‒ a two-thirds veto-proof majority ‒ in both chambers for a long time, allowing them to pass legislation with little Republican interference. California's potential has been squandered, mismanaged or wasted as a result of progressive policies in key areas.

California's sky-high income taxes, coupled with hefty government regulations, have forced businesses to bail on the Golden State. Public Storage is the latest high-profile company to leave California for Texas. It joins many others, like........

© USA TODAY