In California Political News, Steve Frank writes, "What wasn’t expected was the record low turnout of voters, mostly the GOP leaning counties. No wonder we lost so big. Where were the volunteers? How did we do so poorly in Republican Counties?" That question was preceded by Steve’s comment that Assembly Republicans were upset after being asked by leadership to "back a budget badly in deficit and bonds that were tributes to special interests." That just about answers the questions Steve poses.

I’ve never known deficit spending, big bonds and special interest commitments to be things that particularly excite the GOP base.… Read More

Preamble The position of the Republican Party is that state government is too big, and spends too much. That taxes should be cut, and many government-funded programs be eliminated. Families should be able to keep more of their tax dollars, to spend as they would see fit, not shipping them to Sacramento through high taxes and onerous fees, to be redistributed by politicians to their various causes. If everyone would ingrain that into their thinking on policy debates, then there would a better understanding about why Republicans in the legislature are not hip on drinking the ‘bipartisan’ Kool-aid being poured by Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Perata and Speaker Nunez right now. You see, the Democrats are only willing to jump on… Read More

Larry McCarthy is the President of the California Taxpayers Association, and he has penned his thoughts on Tuesday’s election, and the message sent by California voters about tax increases…

**Update: A loyal FR reader just clued me in — apparently Dole is stepping down to be replaced by Nevada Senator John Ensign. A good sign as Ensign has shown his meddle – voting against the President’s medicare expansion plans. Excellent.** Not too long ago, I posted a short rant on this site about my contempt for United States Senator Lincoln Chafee ("R"-Rhode Island). I put his "R" in quotes because this registered Republican votes with Democrats so often that it is disingenuous for him to be registered in the party of Ronald Reagan. He famously brags about how he didn’t cast a vote for President Bush in his last election battle with uber-liberal John Kerry. He also voted against confirming Sam Alito to the United States Supreme Court. When I wrote about him… Read More

Mike Villines came up the ranks with Pete Wilson and Chuck Poochigian, stepped into a very succesful business career, and made the decision in 2003 to take out Steve Samuelian in the 29th Assembly District race in 2004. He’s a family man, an experience businessmen, and respected leader on both sides of the aisle. There isn’t a more principled conservative in California than Villines, and he is deeply disappointed that Republicans in Sacramento keep voting out deficit budgets and putting bond measures on the ballot with the State’s fiscal mess still not under control.

I don’t know whether he will be able to hold his caucus together, but that is essential to any success Villines might have as leader. There is only one vote that counts, and that is on the State budget. If he has his way, California will have seen its last deficit. In my discussions with him, he agrees that California Republicans need to have a set of issues to be identified with before any electoral success is possilble. I think he will be the strongest negotiator on financial matters we’ve seen in several years in Sacramento. He understands the numbers, and has… Read More

Lynn Daucher’s lead has jumped by several hundred after another day of counting – to over 500. As Chick Hearn would say, “the jello’s jiggling.”

Or, to put it more simply, Game Over.… Read More

After meeting for hours today, Assembly Republicans have "unanimously" selected a new leader: Mike Villines of Fresno. Congratulations!! More to follow from the slower folks…… Read More

The FlashReport is on location at the Registrar of Voters in Orange County – the last place where the sun has not set election day.

The 34th State Senate District has been represented by Democrat State Senator Joe Dunn. Term limits have come along and it is now an open seat. The Democrat: Lou Correa, The Republican: Lynn Daucher. If you need more info on the candidates, you are failing CA politics 201. Currently Daucher is sitting on a 138 vote lead – it had been a mere thirteen votes on election night, but they’ve had one run of uncounted ballots that boosted Daucher’s number.

Speaking of uncounted ballots, I spoke with County Registrar Neil Kelley who said that there are likely 20,000 or so uncounted absentee ballots to be counted (the number isn’t clear, it’s based on division using the outstanding number countywide). In addition there are an estimated 3400 uncounted provisional ballots outstanding.

Representing “Team Daucher” are Bryan Lanza, Daucher’s CM, Joel Yang – here for Ackerman as the “numbers guy” – and batting cleanup is former FPPC Chairman Ben Davidian,… Read More