CA: Democrats Retain Firm Grip on Legislative Power

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CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS
Democrats Retain Firm Grip on Legislative Power
Despite a few tight races, the party is all but certain to maintain control of both houses, foiling governor's big push to pick up seats.
By Nancy Vogel and Dan Morain
Times Staff Writers

November 3, 2004

California Democrats maintained their strong hold over both houses of the Legislature in Tuesday's voting, despite a heavy push by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to whittle their majorities.

Several races remained tight as vote-counting continued late into the night. But buoyed by districts that heavily favor Democrats and a strong showing in California by Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry, Democrats were all but certain to keep most if not all their seats in the state Senate and Assembly.

Aided by Schwarzenegger's fundraising prowess, the California Republican Party and many of its candidates outspent Democrats. But consultant Gale Kaufman, who oversaw the Democrats' Assembly campaigns, said Schwarzenegger's popularity did not appear to rub off on GOP candidates in the first general election since last year's recall in which Schwarzenegger ousted Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.

"Republicans have been talking as if there has been a shift since the recall," Kaufman said. "But Democrats won these campaigns because they have been talking about prescription drugs, education, outsourcing of jobs: issues that people care about."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-me-legis3nov03,1,44939.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[slackmaster]

1. There is a down side to this

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. All of our government institutions are based on an adversarial system, and when one side gets too much power it will inevitably go too far which results in a backlash against them, then things go to Hell in a handbasket.

The urban/rural divide has never been clearer in California. Expect more and more fights over water and other resources, taxes, and spending of all kinds.

Read and see: http://www.infospect.com/Governors.htm