California Republicans have a choice in their quest to snap a 20-year losing streak in statewide elections: Moderate their positions on certain issues to appeal to more voters, or lean further to the right to rile up support from the base.
Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, the San Diego Republican with a YouTube channel and his own political movement, is going for the latter.
As CalMatters’ Nadia Lathan explains, DeMaio — whose combative style has earned him a reputation of being a divisive lawmaker — drew ire from his fellow GOP colleagues during the June primary after his Reform California advocated for different candidates than the California Republican Party.
Party officials sent DeMaio a cease-and-desist letter, accusing him of co-opting the GOP’s branding. But in the end, it didn’t matter: Several of his candidates for the Legislature beat establishment Republican picks in the San Diego area, as well as one in the Central Valley.
In the race for San Diego’s Senate District 40, DeMaio backed Kristie Bruce-Lane, who he characterized as a “fighter,” and someone who could exchange blows with Democratic lawmakers.
Bruce-Lane’s campaign raised about $250,000 with the help of DeMaio’s Reform Local Government PAC. Her opponent, San Marcos City Councilmember Ed Musgrove, raised $2 million. The longtime local official with a low-key demeanor also earned the endorsement of well-known Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones and outgoing U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa.
Bruce-Lane won. She will face former Democratic San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott in November.
Elsewhere around the Capitol: California Democrats are deeply divided over the proposed billionaire tax. The California Democratic Party last week officially endorsed the measure after a contentious vote, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra publicly opposing Proposition 40. Read more from CalMatters’ Maya C. Miller and Jeanne Kuang.
CalMatters events: Join us today in Riverside for a free conversation about how California will educate its future workforce. CalMatters’ Adam Echelman will moderate a discussion with health, education and workforce leaders. Register here.
Other Stories You Should Know
CA batting .800 in Trump lawsuits
When President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, California lawmakers quickly allocated $25 million to fund anticipated legal battles against his administration. On Tuesday — 18 months into Trump’s second term — California Attorney General Rob Bonta gave a status update: After suing the Trump administration dozens of times, the state has protected $207 billion in funding that Trump has tried to withhold from California.
Of the 79 lawsuits California brought against Trump through July 30, the state secured 21 final orders and 45 orders granting early relief in its favor. In another eight cases, the Trump administration withdrew its efforts to fight the lawsuit. The money that Trump attempted to take away spanned a variety of funds that went toward schools, food benefits, public safety, climate projects and other programs.
- Bonta: “If I was the Trump administration and I’m losing 83% of the time when I take actions that are unlawful and when I’m challenged by attorneys general, I’d be embarrassed. I’d be humiliated. I would stop being unlawful. But Trump shows no sign of slowing down.”
Bonta estimates that the state’s Department of Justice has spent as much as $29 million so far fighting Trump in court: Roughly $19.2 million of which came from the special fund set up in 2025, and the rest coming from the general fund specifically appropriated for “federal accountability work” in the regular state budget process.
Worry over Trump changes to Head Start
The Trump administration appears poised to overhaul Head Start in a way that critics warn could lower the program’s standards, including at more than 1,800 sites in California, writes CalMatters’ Carolyn Jones.
The federal government said it plans to “significantly reduce regulatory requirements” for the early childhood education program. Though the administration did not provide details, some reports say the move could affect the 70,000 California kids enrolled in Head Start by changing the program’s low student-to-teacher ratios, minimum teacher qualifications and stipulations that Head Start accept income-eligible children regardless of whether they’re disabled or if their parents are citizens.
- Melanee Cottrill, executive director of Head Start California: “Head Start will still exist, but it will be very different from what it is today.”
And lastly: Colorado River plan leaves states guessing
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation last week released a 10-year framework that establishes rough parameters for managing the Colorado River. Though its provisions include an estimated 10% cut to California’s supply through 2028, officials are still left uncertain about the future since the framework imposes no specific long-term plan. Read more from CalMatters’ Rachel Becker.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Sacramento City Unified School District and Los Angeles Unified’s budget woes, which stem from a chronic tendency to overspend revenues, are exacerbated by the state’s own irresponsible fiscal games.
Other things worth your time:
California judge holds Homeland Security in contempt in case over LA immigration sweeps // CalMatters (free)
Trump’s mail voting order is set to implode the midterms, CA tells SCOTUS // San Francisco Chronicle (gift link)
White House whipsaws Silicon Valley (and itself) over AI rule // The New York Times (gift link)
CA AI transparency law’s first phase cracks down on deepfakes, scams // The Sacramento Bee (gift link)
AI is being used to boost Medicaid enrollment in CA, but not without concerns // Capital & Main (free)
Prediction market bets on wildfires draw scrutiny from senators // Bloomberg (gift link)
Edison equipment caused deadly Eaton Fire, LA County Fire investigators conclude // LAist (free)
Report says bill allowing state workers to telework could save CA millions // The Sacramento Bee (gift link)
Teachers have some big wins in this year’s CA budget. Here are their victories // EdSource (free)
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