Victor Davis Hanson on How the GOP Can Work to Turn California Red

In a recent segment on The Ingraham Angle, historian Victor Davis Hanson discussed the GOP’s challenges in California. He noted that millions of conservative voters have left the state in recent decades. For the GOP to succeed, Hanson argued, they must “convince people not to leave.” High taxes, poor services, and aging infrastructure make California difficult for many. “Stay and fight,” Hanson urged, though he admitted it’s a tough sell.

Hanson also highlighted California’s Latino population, which makes up about 45% of the state. He explained that many Latinos in the interior lean conservative, while those along the coast tend to be more left-leaning. This divide, Hanson noted, means that “they don’t represent the majority of Hispanics” statewide. Coastal areas, he explained, are heavily influenced by media and universities, which drives a more progressive stance.

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Hanson also took aim at Governor Gavin Newsom, arguing that Newsom’s words often contradict his actions. “Whatever he says or he professes, just assume the opposite,” Hanson remarked. Though Newsom claims he doesn’t aim to obstruct Trump’s agenda, California has pursued numerous lawsuits against Trump. Hanson described California as a “last redoubt” for progressive policies, with “peasants with pitchforks…starting to get near the walls.” He suggested that residents are increasingly frustrated with the state’s direction.

According to Hanson, this shift doesn’t mean an immediate end for the left in California. However, it could mark “the end of the beginning.” Frustration with issues like crime, economic policies, and social agendas may signal a shift in California’s future politics.