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Insight With Beth Ruyak

 

Hosted By Beth Ruyak

Insight creates conversation to build community, exploring issues and events that connect people in our region. Insight covers breaking news and big ideas, music, arts & culture with responsible journalism, civil discussion and diverse voices.

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Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
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California GOP Chairman Talks About The Party's Future

  •  Cody Drabble 
Monday, December 10, 2018 | Sacramento, CA | Permalink
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AP Photo/Chris Carlson

California Republican Party chairman Jim Brulte speaks during the CRP general assembly meeting on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Anaheim, Calif.

AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Republicans lost all seven of California’s competitive House races, as well as every statewide constitutional office. They now control barely a quarter of the seats in the state Legislature.

California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte says the national GOP should take very seriously the state party’s dismal showing in last month’s midterms.

Brulte spoke with CapRadio Capital Bureau Chief Ben Adler to discuss the election and what's next for the party.

You can listen to the full interview here, or read highlights from it below.

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Interview Highlights

On how poorly the midterms went for California Republicans

I was disappointed but I wasn’t surprised. In fact, with the exception of the U.S. Senate, there was a pretty big blue wave across the country. We lost 40 congressional seats — a number of them in districts Donald Trump won. We lost 380 state legislative seats. I believe we lost seven governorships. So I wasn’t surprised. Of the 40 congressional seats, we lost seven in California. And of the 380 state legislative seats, we lost eight in California. So I wasn’t surprised. But I was disappointed.

On why the party hasn't fared well in California

Well, the demographic changes that have really affected California, I think, is the proximate cause of our declining electoral victories. In 1996, 51 percent of the population of CA was white, 37 percent was registered Republican. Today, we’re a majority minority state. About 37 percent of the population is white. And Republican registration is at about 25 percent. There’s a direct correlation. And interestingly enough, other minority majority states – there are only five of us – have had similar experiences.

On Republicans successes nationally and how California relates

We did have a good election in the Senate. We had an election that defied the historic norm. Beyond that, it was a typical midterm where we lost 40 congressional seats, which as I said is on the high end. We lost seven governorships. And we lost 380 state legislative seats. California didn’t get into trouble overnight. The decline began 22 years ago. And my warning, which I’ve been fairly consistent about giving to other states when I’m back at Republican meetings is, don’t think California’s just a bunch of crazy whackos. We’re the leading edge of demographic change. And that demographic change is coming to communities in your state as well.

On possible next steps for the California GOP

Republicans have to continue to do what we’ve been calling them to do: Get out of your comfort zone. Go into the neighborhoods, the emerging neighborhoods of California, share your principles, share your philosophy, share your policies, and share your hearts. If you don’t share your heart, if people don’t think you care about them, they won’t care what you have to say.

And understand that we didn’t get into trouble overnight. It’s been 30 years since we’ve carried California for president. It’s been 30 years since we carried California for U.S. Senate. It’s been 24 years since we elected a non-incumbent Republican statewide in a regularly scheduled election. Republicans have to work harder, recognize we’re probably going to be outspent. But if you care about the future of California, and you don’t like where Democrats are taking you, then California's worth fighting for. That’s our message. It hasn’t changed.

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  • AP Photo/Chris Carlson

    California GOP Chairman's Dire Warning To National Republicans: 'We're The Canary In The Coal Mine'

    Monday, December 10, 2018
    California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte says the national GOP should take very seriously the state party’s dismal showing in last month’s midterms.

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Cody Drabble

Former Insight Producer and On-Air Director

Cody Drabble learned to love public radio growing up in San Francisco with KQED on every morning during breakfast. In addition to producing and directing the live broadcast of Insight each morning, he also fills in as guest host for Beth Ruyak.   Read Full Bio 

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