\tHere\u2019s a scenario from California that would be hard for even a Hollywood screenwriter to come up with. <\/p>\n
\tThis is a state generally seen to lean heavily to the political left.<\/p>\n
\tIts congressional delegation \u2014 the largest in the country \u2014 stands at 52 House members, of whom 46 are Democrats, and two senators, both Democrats. <\/p>\n
\tThe state Legislature is decisively controlled by Democrats.<\/p>\n
\tYet there seems a reasonable likelihood that in November\u2019s election for governor of California, we\u2019ll see two Republicans running against each other. <\/p>\n
\tHow so?<\/p>\n
\tCalifornia is an open primary state. The top two finishers in the June primary, regardless of party, move to the general election in November.<\/p>\n
\tEight Democrats have entered along with two Republicans. <\/p>\n
\tWith Democrats\u2019 support splintered among the eight, the two Republicans have been sitting at the top of the pack. <\/p>\n
\tNow the story gets more out-of-the-box. Republicans just held their convention, and neither of the two candidates managed the 60% necessary to garner endorsement. <\/p>\n
\tFurther, the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, Steve Hilton, finished 5 points behind the other Republican, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. <\/p>\n
\tAnd now, the candidate generally to have been considered the leading Democrat, seven-term Rep. Eric Swalwell, has pulled out of the race because of charges of sexual misconduct. <\/p>\n
\tCalifornia hasn\u2019t seen a Republican in the governor\u2019s mansion since Arnold Schwarzenegger departed in 2011. <\/p>\n
\tCalifornia is a big, beautiful state, with a $4.1 trillion economy, making it one of the largest economies in the world. <\/p>\n
\tBut it is a state with a problem. Instead of counting its blessings, it is now consuming its blessings. <\/p>\n
\tCalifornia\u2019s magnificent climate, ecology and natural resources attracted waves of population, business and talent over the years. <\/p>\n
\tThis led to booming industries in agriculture, entertainment, real estate and technology.<\/p>\n
\tBut now it\u2019s going in the opposite direction. Skyrocketing costs in living and doing business, mostly due to taxation and regulation, are driving business and labor out of the state.<\/p>\n
\tPer the Public Policy Institute of California, every year in the last 25 years has seen more departures from the state than arrivals.<\/p>\n
\tFrom 2010 to 2024, there were 10 million departures and 7 million arrivals.<\/p>\n
\tHundreds of corporations have moved out of the state. Over the last few years this has included McKesson, Chevron, Telsa, Oracle, CBRE, Charles Schwab and Hewlett Packard Enterprises.<\/p>\n
\tGov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s reaction to this has been indifference. Last year, when CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond announced that it would open no stores in California in its corporate reorganization, his explanation was that California\u2019s business environment \u201cmakes it harder to employ people, harder to keep doors open, and harder to deliver value to customers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe response from the governor\u2019s office was: \u201cAfter their bankruptcy and closure of every store, we thought Bed, Bath, and Beyond no longer existed. \u2026 We wish them well in their efforts to become relevant again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tPer Joel Kotkin of Chapman University and University of Texas-Austin, California has \u201croughly half of the nation\u2019s homeless population\u2026has the highest unemployment rate of any state\u2026and has the highest cost-of-living adjusted poverty rate.\u201d <\/p>\n
\tContinues Kotkin, the state has \u201chemorrhaged 1.6 million above-average paying jobs over the last decade,\u201d and created \u201cfive times as many low-wage as high-wage jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tMeanwhile, Newsom, per Kotkin, has hired a New York PR firm, at a cost of $19 million to California taxpayers, to develop a PR campaign for the state.<\/p>\n
\tPer a Public Policy Institute of California survey, only 1 in 3 Californians see their state as a good place to realize the American dream.<\/p>\n
\tWhen things seem chaotic, as they do today, it\u2019s usually a sign that change is underway.<\/p>\n
\tCalifornia is usually a leading edge for the country. Just as the nation is faltering and in need of a great rebirth and restoration of founding principles, for sure this is what\u2019s happing today in the Golden State.<\/p>\n
\tStar Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Her recent book, \u201cWhat Is the CURE for America?\u201d is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.<\/p>\n