From incomplete grades to A pluses, legislators are weighing in on what the first year has looked like, and what they hope the next three will look like.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Democrats and Republicans are offering starkly different assessments of President Donald Trump’s first year back in office, as the state once again finds itself at the center of legal and political battles with the White House.
Democratic lawmakers overwhelmingly gave the president failing or incomplete marks, pointing to aggressive federal policies and what they describe as repeated attacks on California’s values and laws.
“The Trump administration for California has been an absolute nightmare,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee, a Democrat from Milpitas.
Others echoed that sentiment, assigning the president an “F” or an “incomplete” as they said the consequences of federal actions are still unfolding. Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón and Sen. Angelique Ashby of Sacramento both said it was too early to fully grade the administration but warned of significant harm ahead.
California has sued the federal government 54 times in the past year, continuing a long-standing pattern of legal resistance. Attorney General Rob Bonta said the lawsuits are necessary to counter what he called unlawful federal actions.
“If he stops breaking the law, we’ll stop suing. Plain and simple,” Bonta said.
He added during a press conference Tuesday morning in San Francisco, “It has been one year since Trump doubled down on his sweeping – often illegal – campaign to remake America. One year since he launched his vendetta against California.”
Republicans in the Legislature, however, praised Trump’s performance, saying he is delivering on campaign promises related to public safety, affordability and government accountability.
“Promises made, promises kept,” said Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, a Republican from Jackson, who gave the president an “A plus.”
Assemblymember Joe Patterson, a Republican from Rocklin, also gave Trump high marks, saying he wants the president to succeed. Other Republicans said they support the administration’s focus on cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse and reassessing trade policies, including tariffs.
“They’re supposed to be retaliatory tariffs,” noted Fresno Republican Assemblymember David Tangipa.
Despite sharp disagreements, GOP lawmakers said they hope for greater cooperation between California and the federal government.
“Like it or not, he is our president for the next three years,” Alvarado-Gil said.
Patterson noted the back and forth legal battle is not a good game to play, as it’s Californians ultimately paying the price.
Democrats countered that collaboration has been difficult amid escalating tensions over immigration enforcement and anticipated federal cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs under the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Gov. Gavin Newsom has warned those cuts could cost California an additional $1.4 billion in the next state budget.
“If we’re going to have the same destruction of having social resources and a social safety net, there will be a lot of harmed people by the end of three more years,” Ashby said.
Assemblymember Mike Gipson, a Democrat from Carson, said the Legislature will continue to push back against federal actions it views as harmful.
“You will not find this Legislature in either house being silent on the things that matter,” Gipson said.
The political standoff shows no signs of easing, with California leaders signaling they will continue to take an aggressive posture against the administration on issues ranging from immigration enforcement to healthcare funding.
Attention now turns overseas, where both Newsom and Trump are scheduled to speak at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, as state and federal leaders continue to clash on the national stage.
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