Election 2016: What California Republicans Need to Learn ...

Steve Greenhut

In my view, Hadley was the toughest loss. He is thoughtful and effective — a principled limited-government guy who was able to work with liberal Democrats to accomplish some meaningful things. That sounds improbable, but his co-authorship of an important bill reforming the state’s abusive asset-forfeiture laws was a key to its passage. Frankly, Hadley fit the model I’ve often touted — offer principled libertarian-oriented candidates who can do a good job explaining our issues to the public. Never mind about that idea. -- Stephen Greenhut, "California GOP’s Final Death Throes"

Hadley voted against every single tax increase.

He put together an incredible fundraising machine based on voluntary donations instead of forced unionism and coerced dues.

He talked to and reached out to every section of the South Bay.

There was not one event sponsored by city representatives that Hadley would not miss.

And yet ... he lost.

No wonder Greenhut was crushed about Hadley's loss.

And yet, he writes earlier in his article:

No one was surprised that Assemblyman David Hadley of Torrance lost his seat. The 66th Assembly District in the Los Angeles South Bay area has an 8-point Democratic advantage. That makes it more Republican than other districts in Los Angeles County, but it’s still tough sledding.

The slant turned into a 10 point advantage. When the district was first carved out by the Citizens Commission, however, it was only a D+3 advantage, and Republican statewide candidates Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman carried the district (although by a slim margin, and they eventually lost their bids for office).

Registration is down for Republicans, and the investment to improve this stark disadvantage needs to be fixed. Power brokers and major donors seemed content to allow a Pro-Business and a Pro-Labor faction fight for power in Sacramento, regardless of political parties. Prop 14 has not helped.

Add to this mess a fawning, corrupt media with left-leaning intentions--still-- plus endorsements from Governor Jerry Brown and President Barack Obama, and the forces were just to great for the Republican incumbent.

When Hadley was elected in 2014, it was the first time a Republican won that seat in 16 years. “Republicans across California sent a clear message that with the right candidate that matches the district and the right team behind them, Republicans are more than competitive,” GOP consultant Mitch Zak told the Daily Breeze. “And Republican philosophies and ideologies are alive and well in California.”

It amazes me how often writers and reporters get this information messed up.

The last assemblyman to represent the greater South Bay (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, etc) was 1992.

Former Palos Verdes mayor Steve Kuykendall would win election to the state assembly in a district that covered the Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Pedro, and parts of Long Beach. He later ran for Congress and won in 1998. Then lost that re-election bid in 2000.

The moral of this short foray into Congressional history? Greater factors are at play in the South Bay, where the aerospace base has gone away, while wealthy, liberal-leaning interests have invaded pushing pet Big Green projects. Add to that the power of the labor unions and the rising liberal sentiment of illegal immigration and its enablers, and a perfect Democratic storm emerges.

About California Republican ideologies ....

Hadley voted for SB 10, allowing illegal aliens to purchase health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges. That was the worst vote he cast (worst than the assisted suicide vote, was intellectually consistent with his libertarian credentials). A number of well-connected and active Republicans refused to support him after other votes, too.

A California Republican Party which dabbles in amnesty and unionism will not last long. Where is the integrity? Where is the trust and consistency?

This is crucial. A vision and a consensus are necessary if the opposition wants to succeed.

Now, about Hadley's grassroots vision, which I applaud ...

The South Bay One Hundred in 2014 gave way to the South Bay 300. Residents, citizens, supporters throughout the South Bay. This forum would serve as the endorsement body to ensure one Republican candidate would compete for a seat. Hadley's long-term goal with this extended network? Counterbalance the public sector unions.

Election 2016, and Hadley still lost. The truth is that a South Bay 1000, with each member contributing $500, would never overcome the labor unions' unfair, unconstitutional fundraising advantage. What's $500,000 when labor unions will pour in ten times--twenty times--that amount of money if needed? They can draw on massive funds to make that happen.

Then add voter fraud, voter apathy, Prop 14, and mismanaged State GOP priorities, and Hadley lost.

It's a sad lesson to learn that the hardest working elected official can go unnoticed or rejected just because of party label, or because special interests drown a district in big money. The same fate has fallen on incumbents from local office who seek higher office across the country, too. How many incumbents were kicked out after 30 years of "service" in the state capital or Washington DC, too?