Donnelly Launches Campaign Bus Tour

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly may be a tea party Republican in a state full of Democrats, but that doesn’t faze him. He said people though Ronald Reagan was too conservative when he ran for governor in the 60’s.

“I’m really going out there and just talking to people about what they care about, what’s important to them. And trying to unite a divided majority that are Californians," he said. "And I’m doing it on American principles, hard work, personal responsibility and, most of all, freedom.” 

Donnelly said most people want the government to just stay out of their way.

But Republican political consultant Mike Madrid said Donnelly’s comparison to Reagan is outdated.

“Ronald Reagan was governor in the 60’s and 70’s and there is very little that is similar to California in the 60’s and 70’s compared to now, 40 or 50 years later," he said. "And that is a tough realization that a lot of folks in the party just are not able to come to grips with.”

And Donnelly may face some financial challenges getting his message out. His campaign ended last year with just about $54 thousand cash on hand. Governor Jerry Brown has close to $17 million, and he hasn’t even formally announced he’s running for reelection.