Key Takeaways:
– Democrats’ longstanding dominance in the California State Legislature has led to internal debates and disagreements.
– Despite holding a “super supermajority,” ideological differences within the party often cause gridlocked policies.
– Encapsulation of power within the party has resulted in private negotiations and less public policy discussions.
– The supermajority creates immense pressure on the governor to balance divergent views within the party.
– Democrats remain susceptible to external forces, as shown in the struggle of State Sen. Josh Newman.
The Anatomy of Majority Rule in the State Legislature
Following a sweeping win twelve years ago, Democrats attained an astounding two-thirds supermajority in the California State Legislature. This allowed them to pass bills without needing a single Republican vote – a feat not seen for nearly eight decades. Today, Democrats occupy 93 of the 120 seats in the California Legislature. This so-called “super supermajority,” however, lays bare the drawbacks of excessive unilateral dominance.
Despite their power, Democrats are far from complacency, with internal discord often replacing concerns of losing seats. So hefty a majority means lawmakers often find themselves at odds rather than united. According to state Sen. Bill Dodd, an excess of Democrats in the Legislature could be harmful to democracy and even the Democratic caucus itself.
The Ideological Divide under One-Party Rule
Typically, debates on critical issues such as education, housing, and the environment would take place between Democrats and Republicans. However, with the overwhelming Democrat dominance, these debates have shifted in-house, often pitting liberals against moderates. As a result, reaching a consensus can become a struggle, particularly amongst a diverse 62 Democratic voices in the Assembly. Policy discussions now frequently occur in private caucus meetings, which limits transparency in policy testing.
Continuous policy negotiations and subsequent disagreements plague high-profile initiatives, causing more infighting among the different houses. This increased friction can instigate a sense of chaos, but the size of the Democratic party still ensures the passage of simple majority vote bills with minimal debate about merits.
The Impact of Supermajority on Governor and Policy-Making
The sizable supermajority has allowed Democrats to “supercharge their agenda,” admitted Jim DeBoo, a former director of Assembly Democrats. This supercharge inevitably places enormous pressure on the governor to strike the right balance for California. On the upside, however, this also means Governor Gavin Newsom often finds support for his policies more easily. The more intense the Democrats’ internal argument gets, the less likely they are to collectively oppose his proposals.
Case Study: The Plight of Senator Josh Newman
The impervious Democratic presence doesn’t guarantee immunity from vulnerabilities. State Sen. Josh Newman’s journey illustrates this perfectly. Newman, who previously helped the party secure a supermajority in 2016 by winning a Republican-held district, faced a successful recall effort led by the GOP two years later. This came after his vote to increase gas taxes for road repairs, a legislation backed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown.
Despite winning back the seat in 2020, Newman faced backlash from a progressive labor union in the 2024 election for his moderate approach and non-support for some liberal policies. Furthermore, the supermajority has spurred union attacks against Newman for his moderation, revealing that unchecked dominance can lead to internal factions and unusual alliances.
Competition Within the Party
The supermajority has given rise to unusual competition within the party, with business groups, labor unions, and other interest groups supporting different factions within the Democrats. In this setting of dominance, some candidates appeal to corporate influences for electoral gains. Against this backdrop, Democrats are striving to expand their numbers in the upcoming November elections, despite rarely exercising their considerable voting powers in the last two years.
Conclusion
Though the Democrats’ “super supermajority” in California legislature provides the political advantage of passing any bill without Republican support, it invariably leads to division within the party. The lack of an external counterweight oftentimes impedes the legislative process and fosters discord among party members. As the dynamics of the mega supermajority meets the hard reality, policy-making faces more challenges, and unforeseen coalitions may emerge. Therefore, while political dominance has its benefits, it underscores the importance of maintaining a balance of power for healthy and functioning democracy.