In an interview with the Orange County Register, former Governor Pete Wilson reiterated his support for Proposition 187, the 1994 anti-illegal immigrant initiative that is widely seen as having driven many Latinos away from the GOP. Martin Wisckol, Orange County Register:
“Former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, the most prominent advocate for a 1994 ballot measure aimed at eliminating public benefits to undocumented immigrants, said Thursday that he would “absolutely” give the initiative the same level of support if he were to do it over….
“The measure was supported by 59 percent of voters but just 27 percent of Latinos, according to the Field Poll. Wilson, who was facing a struggling state economy and trailed Democrat Kathleen Brown in early polling, is viewed by many experts as having gained a short-term boost from his anti-illegal immigration posture.
“However, the effort is thought to have hurt the state GOP in the long run. In 1992, 35 percent of California Latinos voted for the Republican presidential candidate, according to the Field Poll. That dropped to 25 percent in 1996 and 22 percent in 2012.”
And, on cue, gun rights groups expressed outrage at Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed ballot initiative to increase regulation of guns and ammunition in the state, characterizing the move as a cheap political stunt for Newsom’s presumed 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Alexei Koseff, Sacramento Bee:
“Gun groups immediately balked at what they consider an unconstitutional attack on their right of possession and a dangerous step toward even more sweeping prohibitions.
“’California illustrates the true gun control agenda, which is the ultimate confiscation and banning of firearms,’ the National Rifle Association said in a statement. ‘They can’t repeal the Second Amendment, so they’re trying to chip away our rights until there is nothing left.’
“The state already has some of the most restrictive firearms policies in the country, including a 1999 ban on assault weapons, such as the AK-47, that forbade the importation, manufacture and sale of ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds.”
And speaking of the 2018 race, the Field Poll finds support for potential-Governor Newsom at 41%, nearly as high as that for former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Mark DiCamillo in Capitol Weekly:
“In its latest statewide survey of California registered voters, The Field Poll asked voters whether they would be inclined or not inclined to support each of eight prominent Californians who have been mentioned as possible candidates for Governor in 2018.
“In this setting three Democrats – former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti – receive the largest proportions of early voter support. Greater than four in ten voters say they would be inclined to vote for Villaraigosa (42%) and Newsom (41%), and nearly as many say this about Garcetti (36%) if they were to be candidates for Governor in 2018.
“Another 29% of voters say they would be inclined to support two other Democrats, environmentalist Tom Steyer and state Treasurer John Chiang…”
Looking at a race a bit closer than 2018, Attorney General Kamala Harris is not only the frontrunner to replace retiring Senator Barbara Boxer in 2016, her fundraising is outpacing all of her rivals. Combined. Christopher Cadelago has the story in the Sacramento Bee:
“Harris, leading in public polls, reported Thursday that her campaign raised more than $1.8 million in the July-to-September period. Harris has spent $2.58 million since launching in January, and finished the period with $3.33 million in cash on hand. She reported $401,000 in debts…
“Her Democratic rival, Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange, has raised about $1 million, transferred $516,000 from another account and personally loaned her campaign $300,000. She concluded the latest period with $1.56 million in the bank and $309,000 in outstanding financial obligations.”
It’s Friday, the day we name the California pol who had the #WorstWeekinCA. It wasn’t much of a contest.
Kevin Johnson, former NBA player and current mayor of Sacramento, has been facing a series of withering stories from Deadspin, a website in the Gawker media family, for months. While most of the coverage hadn’t initially resonated outside Sacramento, the site’s dogged pursuit of Johnson has renewed focus on claims that Johnson molested a 15 year old girl in 1995 while he was on the Phoenix Suns, culminating last week with the release of footage from the 1995 police interview with the girl in which she describes Johnson fondling her.
The controversy led ESPN to announce Monday that they would indefinitely postpone release of “Down in the Valley,” a documentary that celebrates Sacramento’s successful effort to retain the Sacramento Kings - featuring Johnson as the main focus of the film - citing renewed concerns over the molestation allegations. The local premiere of the film went forward on Monday, with Kings management and players noticeably absent.
Several local media outlets have come to Johnson’s rescue, questioning whether Deadspin has a vendetta against the Sacramento mayor. The disgusted, profanity-laden response from Deadspin Editor Tim Marchman is the kind of thing you don’t often get on your local TV news.
The bad news for Johnson is that the story has legs, with coverage of ESPN’s action going nationwide, and The New Republic weighing in with a story that might inspire a wave of “Does the New Republic have a vendetta against Kevin Johnson?” stories from Sacto outlets.
No telling where this story will go, but with the Bee running an article yesterday that the city had cautioned the mayor months ago about touching city employees, it ain’t good so far.
