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California Dreamin’: GOP’s chance to flip the Golden State
American Thinker ^ | 04/28/2026 | Mike Robertson

Posted on 04/28/2026 9:46:18 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Californians deserve better and this November, they just might get it.

Ahead of the gubernatorial election this fall, pundits are buzzing with something Californians haven’t heard in years: a real chance to flip the Golden State red — at least with a new governor in Sacramento. Thanks to its top-two primary system, in which the top two finishers advance to November regardless of party, this is more than possible.

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This election cycle matters more than most for the Republican Party, and for the people of California. The Golden State has suffered under one-party Democrat rule for more than fifteen years, and the results are shocking. Despite some recent dips in violent crime, years of soft-on-crime policies have left neighborhoods scarred by retail theft waves, open drug markets, and a homelessness crisis that defies solution. 

Businesses keep fleeing — California led the nation in net out-migration again in 2025, with roughly 216,000 residents packing up and leaving, many taking jobs and tax revenue with them. Housing remains wildly unaffordable, earning the state an F grade from Realtor.com for sky-high prices relative to incomes and regulatory barriers to new construction.

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Paychecks don’t stretch, education rankings lag (California sits around 24th–37th nationally, depending on the metric), and the state’s aggressive green-energy mandates have driven up electricity and gas costs while water infrastructure struggles to keep pace.

Then came the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. Fire hydrants ran dry, water pressure failed in Pacific Palisades and elsewhere, and critics slammed the response for poor preparation and coordination — exactly the kind of governance failure that leaves residents wondering who’s in charge. 

All of this flows from Blue authorities: sanctuary-state policies that shield illegal immigrants at the expense of public safety,


(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2026; california; governor; midterms
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1 posted on 04/28/2026 9:46:18 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

All of these problems flow from Blue authorities: sanctuary-state policies that shield illegal immigrants at the expense of public safety, endless fights with the Trump administration, and a relentless push for DEI and woke ideology over practical reforms. Californians have paid the price.

But this November, the tide may finally turn. There is a genuine opportunity to deliver what Californians truly deserve — crisis resolution, safer streets, affordable living, and an economy that works again.

Two Republicans, both with strong Trump backing, are posting surprisingly strong numbers in recent polls. Former Fox News host and Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco have led or tied for the top spots in multiple surveys, while a crowded Democrat field — Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, and others — splits the vote and often trails.


2 posted on 04/28/2026 9:47:02 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

To flip California, all we have to do is have real elections.

Because the only way the dems win is from cheating.

Doesn’t take a genius to see this.


3 posted on 04/28/2026 9:47:10 AM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Jaws of victory alert!


4 posted on 04/28/2026 9:47:40 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? On hold! Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🚫💉! 🇮🇱🙏! Winning currently!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ll vote for Bianco or Hilton to keep the one of them that needs it to stay in second place.


5 posted on 04/28/2026 9:48:38 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: reasonisfaith

6 posted on 04/28/2026 9:49:16 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege (🦋🌷🩰)
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To: SeekAndFind

Puhlease! Kalifornia Dreamin’ is right. the drill is when the Republican Governor is sworn in, recall petitions go out.
Not one moments peace for the opposition.


7 posted on 04/28/2026 9:49:17 AM PDT by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness)
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To: reasonisfaith
Because the only way the dems win is from cheating.

The biggie is in bogus registrations.

8 posted on 04/28/2026 9:50:05 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: SeekAndFind

All of these problems flow from the co-opted, utterly corrupted Assassin-crat party.


9 posted on 04/28/2026 9:51:45 AM PDT by EasySt (Say not this is the truth, but so it seems to me to be, as I see this thing I think I see. #MAGA-A)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

That blue has a lot of illegal votes.

A lot.


10 posted on 04/28/2026 9:53:40 AM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: SeekAndFind
"GOP’s chance to flip the Golden State."

If that's a question I would say the odds are about ZIP...

11 posted on 04/28/2026 9:56:14 AM PDT by unread (One of the largest cities in America has fallen to the communist... Think about that...)
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To: reasonisfaith

There is no chance it will end being two Republicans on the ballot. The rats control the process top to bottom. They will do whatever it takes no matter what it takes.


12 posted on 04/28/2026 9:57:17 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: Carry_Okie

Yes, and the dems have multiple layers of cheating in elections.

Illegal aliens voting.

Voting machines flipping votes.

Mail in votes.

So, I’m not sure if the dems ever truly won California.


13 posted on 04/28/2026 9:57:35 AM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: gibsonguy

The rats have already eaten the poison bait.

They don’t realize it, but it’s only a matter of time now.


14 posted on 04/28/2026 9:58:27 AM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: reasonisfaith
So, I’m not sure if the dems ever truly won California.

I'm reminded of the ballot boxes found floating in San Francisco Bay after Willie Brown's mayoral election.

15 posted on 04/28/2026 10:01:34 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: reasonisfaith
So, I’m not sure if the dems ever truly won California.

I'm reminded of the ballot boxes found floating in San Francisco Bay after Willie Brown's mayoral election or Judicial Watch's lawsuit discovering 1.4 million illegal registrations.

16 posted on 04/28/2026 10:03:36 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: SeekAndFind

There are so many Dim-election-protection-racket laws in California it is impossible to reform it. It will sink further into a failed state as good people and good companies leave the state, and more and more abandon the woke voters to their systemic welfare charges - those the woke voters put above the working citizens interests.


17 posted on 04/28/2026 10:04:15 AM PDT by Wuli ( )
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To: Carry_Okie

Good observation. Noted.


18 posted on 04/28/2026 10:04:30 AM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: Carry_Okie

BTW, those 1.4 million illegal registrations were in Los Angeles County alone.


19 posted on 04/28/2026 10:04:58 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: griswold3

With super majorities democrats don’t need to care who is governor But ya they will try to recall him


20 posted on 04/28/2026 10:05:57 AM PDT by cableguymn (Can't cancel all of us)
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