The Nov. 6 election has left some of us scratching our heads – wondering why we were left with more of the same. That is, the exact same status quo for gridlock with a Republican House and a Democratic Senate and Administration – both more stubborn than the stripped threads on an old screw.
As constituents around the country wonder if stubborn partisanship in Congress will stay its course, California looks forward to a new and certain future: a single-party takeover of both Legislative houses. Meaning that the Democrats’ newly won two-thirds majority pretty much gives the party the keys to the state when it comes to raising taxes – or pushing through any partisan policy that would otherwise be kept in check by California republicans.
So powerful is this super voting bloc that it even allows Democrats to override vetoes by Gov. Jerry Brown and place constitutional amendments on the ballot. It is the first time in more than one hundred years that the state Democratic Party has embraced such control.
Yes, the supermajority is finally a reality for Golden State Dems, and yes, the San Gabriel Valley made its contributions to the new state power. But whether this bodes well or ill for our Sacramento lawmaking club, let’s consider the contributions our local electorate made to the birth of California’s new Democratic supermajority.
In the 25th state Senate district, Senator Carol Liu kept her seat in Sacramento with 60 percent of the vote, keeping Republican challenger Gil Gonzales at arm’s length with 39 percent.
In the 41st state Assembly District race, Democrat Chris Holden took nearly 58 percent of the vote, leaving Republican Donna Lowe with about 42 percent. Lowe, backed by the Tea Party, was unsuccessful in wrestling votes away from the Pasadena City Councilman over the controversial issue of the 710-freeway project. Instead, Holden used his 23-year political career at City Hall to keep Lowe at bay.
In the 48th state Assembly District, state Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina) received 59 percent of the vote over Republican Joe Gardner’s 41 percent. You would think Gardner would have had a decent edge over Hernandez, considering the Assemblyman’s image as of late: arrested earlier this year on suspicion of driving under the influence, while fighting allegations of domestic abuse.
In the 49th state Assembly District race, Montebello Unified School District board member Ed Chau beat Republican challenger Dr. Matthew Lin by 14 points. Chau took 57 percent of the vote, shutting out Lin’s bid for the Assembly at 43 percent. The 49th Assembly district includes Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Arcadia and Temple City.
For the 57th state Assembly district race out of Whittier, Democrat Ian Charles Calderon beat Republican Noel A. Jaimes 63 percent to 36 percent. Calderon won the bid to succeed his father, Assemblyman Charles Calderon, who was termed-out.
Another Democratic contribution from the valley, but to the 27th Congressional district, was the defeat of Republican Jack Orswell by liberal Congresswoman Judy Chu, 63 percent to 36 percent. The new San Gabriel Valley Foothill District includes Alhambra, Temple City, Rosemead, Sierra Madre and portions of Pasadena.
In an email the night before the election, Orswell said he hoped to “get to work for the community.” I agreed with him that voters are tired of the politics of partisan gridlock and want people who will simply work for them.
But mostly I agreed with him that voters are tired.
