The Sacramento Swamp, Republican Weakness, and the Fight for Reform — A Candid Conversation With Assemblyman Carl DeMaio
California Assemblyman Carl DeMaio joins Jon Fleischman for a candid conversation about the state of California politics, the dysfunction inside Sacramento, and the strategy behind his reform efforts.
In this episode of the So, Does It Matter? One-On-One Podcast, DeMaio explains why he believes California’s political system is dominated by insiders and special interests, and why conservatives must build a stronger grassroots movement if they want to change the direction of the state.
The discussion covers DeMaio’s first term in the California State Assembly, Reform California's work, and the importance of recruiting candidates willing to challenge the status quo in Sacramento.
Jon and Carl also discuss two major ballot initiatives that Reform California helped qualify: voter ID and a measure designed to strengthen protections under Proposition 13.
Whether you agree with him or not, DeMaio offers a blunt assessment of how California politics really works—and what it may take to reform it.
TOPICS DISCUSSED
• Carl DeMaio’s background in government reform
• The mission and strategy behind Reform California
• What DeMaio discovered after arriving in Sacramento
• Why he believes Republicans must communicate more effectively
• The effort to recruit new conservative candidates statewide
• Breaking the Democratic supermajority in the Legislature
• Voter ID and election integrity reforms
• The Save Prop 13 ballot initiative
• The future of California politics
CANDIDATES MENTIONED
Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez
Assemblymember Leticia Castillo
Victoria Moreno
Raffaella Romero
Carrie Villanueva Espinoza
Christy Bruce Lane
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Reform California
Jon Fleischman
