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.<\/p>\n
SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014 California Democrats and Republicans are offering starkly different assessments of President Donald Trump\u2019s first year back in office, as the state once again finds itself at the center of legal and political battles with the White House.<\/p>\n
Democratic lawmakers overwhelmingly gave the president failing or incomplete marks, pointing to aggressive federal policies and what they describe as repeated attacks on California\u2019s values and laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Trump administration for California has been an absolute nightmare,\u201d said Assemblymember Alex Lee, a Democrat from Milpitas.<\/p>\n
Others echoed that sentiment, assigning the president an \u201cF\u201d or an \u201cincomplete\u201d as they said the consequences of federal actions are still unfolding. Senate President Pro Tem Monique Lim\u00f3n and Sen. Angelique Ashby of Sacramento both said it was too early to fully grade the administration but warned of significant harm ahead.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he stops breaking the law, we\u2019ll stop suing. Plain and simple,\u201d Bonta said.<\/p>\n
He added during a press conference Tuesday morning in San Francisco, \u201cIt has been one year since Trump doubled down on his sweeping \u2013 often illegal \u2013 campaign to remake America. One year since he launched his vendetta against California.\u201d<\/p>\n
Republicans in the Legislature, however, praised Trump\u2019s performance, saying he is delivering on campaign promises related to public safety, affordability and government accountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cPromises made, promises kept,\u201d said Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, a Republican from Jackson, who gave the president an \u201cA plus.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s focus on cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse and reassessing trade policies, including tariffs.<\/p>\n
“They\u2019re supposed to be retaliatory tariffs,” noted Fresno Republican Assemblymember David Tangipa.<\/p>\n
Despite sharp disagreements, GOP lawmakers said they hope for greater cooperation between California and the federal government.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike it or not, he is our president for the next three years,\u201d Alvarado-Gil said.<\/p>\n
Patterson noted the back and forth legal battle is not a good game to play, as it’s Californians ultimately paying the price.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cBig Beautiful Bill.\u201d Gov. Gavin Newsom has warned those cuts could cost California an additional $1.4 billion in the next state budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019re 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,\u201d Ashby said.<\/p>\n
Assemblymember Mike Gipson, a Democrat from Carson, said the Legislature will continue to push back against federal actions it views as harmful.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will not find this Legislature in either house being silent on the things that matter,\u201d Gipson said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n