The very first thing to know concerning the Republican candidate for California governor is that he’s a superb man, not a jerk or a crackpot.
You would confidently vote for state Sen. Brian Dahle and smile — not really feel the urge to throw up.
A seed farmer from the tiny Lassen County city of Bieber within the mountainous northeast, Dahle, 57, is likeable, level-headed and extremely revered by colleagues of each events. He’s a fighter, however not a ranting demagogue.
“He’s not loopy, which in 2022 places him forward of a bunch of different Republicans,” says Jack Pitney, a authorities professor at Claremont McKenna School.
Pitney is a former Republican Nationwide Committee official who registered as an unbiased the evening Donald Trump was elected president in 2016.
OK, however merely being a pleasant man fairly than a impolite wacko is a reasonably low bar. It isn’t sufficient to qualify somebody to control the nation’s most populous state with the world’s fifth-largest financial system.
So, the second factor to learn about Dahle is that he might deal with the job.
Not like different Republican gubernatorial finalists within the final quarter century, this one has really held elective workplaces, and held them effectively. He served 17 years as a county supervisor, then greater than six within the state Meeting, the place he was minority chief, and now's in his fourth 12 months as senator.
He is aware of the ins and outs of presidency and has immersed himself within the particulars of advanced public coverage, particularly water. No coaching wheels could be wanted.
“Republicans have been ready for a magic candidate to indicate up and save them, as an alternative of doing the fundamental work essential to rebuild the social gathering,” says Dan Schnur, a former GOP operative who teaches political communications at USC and UC Berkeley. “That isn't a viable political technique.”
“Dahle’s most likely not going to win,” Schnur provides, “however possibly he represents step one the social gathering must take to get out of their deep gap. They’re not going to get out of it in a single day.”
That brings up the third factor to learn about Dahle, and nearly everybody already is aware of it: There isn't any conceivable approach he can win.
Dahle is a conservative who’s the improper political match for this liberal state.
A September ballot by the nonpartisan Public Coverage Institute of California confirmed Gov. Gavin Newsom main Dahle amongst probably voters by a landslide margin, 58% to 31%.
One place the place Dahle does match effectively politically is his far-flung legislative district, which stretches from the Oregon border down via the northern Sierra to south of Lake Tahoe — 11 counties in all. His spouse, Republican Assemblywoman Megan Dahle, represents lots of the similar counties within the decrease home.
Whereas Newsom simply beat again a Republican recall effort final 12 months, most counties in Dahle’s district voted closely to oust the Democratic governor. And though President Biden gained by a landslide statewide in 2020, most of Dahle’s counties supported Trump — Lassen did with 75% of the vote.
I requested Dahle whether or not he believes Biden gained the nationwide election legitimately. “Sure,” he immediately replied.
So, Dahle doesn’t purchase Trump’s Massive Lie. However he wouldn’t acknowledge that to different Instances reporters throughout the main election when he was attempting to turn out to be the No. 1 Republican selection for governor.
Dahle advised me he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020. However he wouldn’t reply whether or not the previous president ought to run once more in 2024. Nonetheless, I don’t anticipate to see him sporting a MAGA cap.
“I’m targeted on California,” he says.
In a telephone interview, I requested him about this state. These are a few of his solutions:
How might a Republican governor obtain something with a supermajority Democratic Legislature? Democrats would want to compromise with him on spending, Dahle says. He might veto their finances and plenty of different payments.
However Dahle factors out he has at all times labored with Democrats, particularly on water.
He says the state must construct extra reservoirs and likewise give attention to desalination. He doesn’t assist the proposed tunnel for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
Wildfires? Vegetation administration should be fast-tracked. “Our watersheds are burning up,” he says.
The bullet practice? “I hate the factor. It’s by no means going to work as offered to the general public.” He desires to pour rail cash into water storage.
Abortion? “I’m pro-life…. We'd like a dialog about what’s cheap.”
Weapons? “I respect the Second Modification. My greatest factor is getting firearms out of felons’ palms — not going after law-abiding gun homeowners.”
“He’s just about an old-school Republican,” Pitney says. “Possibly not somebody who has a severe shot at statewide workplace, however on the similar time he’s not a humiliation, both.”
That’s a superb begin for the California GOP.
George Skelton is a Los Angeles Instances columnist.