California Democratic Party

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California Democratic Party
Chairman John L. Burton
Senate leader Darrell Steinberg
Assembly leader John Pérez
Founded c. 1846
Headquarters 1401 21st Street, Suite 200, Sacramento CA 95811
Ideology American Liberalism
Progressivism
Center-left
National affiliation Democratic Party
Official colors Blue
Seats in the Upper House
25 / 40
Seats in the Lower House
52 / 80
Website
www.cadem.org
Politics of the United States
Political parties
Elections

The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento.[1] It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority party in both chambers of the California State Legislature, i.e. the State Assembly and the Senate.

Contents

[edit] Platform

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The Democratic Party of California adopted its current platform on April 18, 2010. The focus of the new platform is to promote civil rights, improve institutions, and provide an equal opportunity for all citizens of the state of California to reach their potential. The committee which drafted the platform was led by Lyn Shaw Hilfenhaus and Howard Welinksy.

In regards to businesses and economics, the California Democratic party takes a stance that protects consumers, small businesses, unions, and individuals whose homes have been foreclosed upon. The platform also makes a point to champion the economic reforms of President Barack Obama.

The 2010 platform addresses the issues of family in several sections. The platform promises to protect seniors, children and all types of families with fair economic and social policies. These policies range from continuing Medicare for the elderly and keeping playgrounds safe for children. The platform also highlights the right of a woman to make choices for her own body and claims that healthcare is a natural right of all people. The California democrats also promise to protect the dignity of disabled citizens. Finally there is a section of the platform dedicated to advocating for the rights of women through equal pay and affirmative action.

It is a large priority of the party to create a sustainable and earth friendly state. This goal includes city clean up and sustaining fertile rural areas. Focus is placed on alternative forms of energy and the way energy is used. The platform also stresses green collar jobs as a solution to economic and environmental concerns.

Finally the platform takes stances on internet use, immigration, and education. The Democrats of California support the right of the people to express their thoughts and ideas through any media, and their right to assemble. The party also believes that immigration laws should be fair and that immigrants should not be discriminated against. Finally the party wishes to bring education to forefront, and be a leading state in educating the nations youth.

[edit] Recent resolutions

The California Democratic Party passes multiple resolutions every year as a way of expressing their opinion to lawmakers statewide. While the party's resolutions have no legal force themselves, they are official documents that elected representatives should take into account when making decisions.

  • 2011 CA Education Funding Resolution
This resolution written July 21 2011 advises the state legislature and the governor to support funding for primary schools. The California Democratic Party takes a stance that, despite the state’s floundering budget cuts should not be made in the area of public schooling.
  • Assault Weapons and Extended Clip Ban
This resolution was written in response to the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona senator, in July 2011. The resolution urges congress to ban assault weapons and large firearm magazines to avoid further tragedies. The California Democratic Party acknowledges all Americans right to carry arms, but believes these weapons can threaten public safety.
The tragic shooting of representative Giffords prompted the Democratic Party to take action.
  • Extreme Legislation Against Undocumented Residents
With this document, the California Democratic Party condemns the drastic legislative action taken by other states against illegal immigrants. The resolution highlights specifically Alabama HR-56. It is the position of the party that it is unconstitutional to single out and discriminate against one minority group.
It is easy to see that the resolutions crafted by the California Democratic Party recently are in line with the beliefs laid out in the party platform.

[edit] History

The history of the Democratic Party of California is complex and long. The State has traded hands every few cycles since its admission into the union in 1850. At that time, the state was firmly in the hands of the Democratic Party. However, within five years, issues such as slavery splintered the party and the Know-Nothing Party took control.[2]

Until the early 1880s the young Republican Party held the state through the power and influence of railroad men. The Democratic Party responded by taking an anti-corporate and anti-monopoly position. In 1894, Democrat James Budd was elected to the governorship, and the Democratic Party attempted to make good on their promises to reform the booming railroad industry. The party began working closely with the states railroad commission to create fair rates for passengers and to eliminate monopolies the railroad companies held over the state. The main effort focused on making railroads public avenues of transportation similar to streets and roads. This measure passed and was a great victory for the Democrats, but the honey moon would not last.[3] Budd was to be the last Democratic governor for thirty years. The struggle between the anti-monopolists and the railroad companies was however, a key and defining issue for the Democratic Party for some time.

Despite their relative lack of power during this period, the Democrats in California were still active in pursuing reform. The party supported fairer railroad policies and crusaded for tariff reform.[4] The party also supported the large scale railroad strikes that sprung up statewide. The corruption of the time in both the railroad companies and the government led to a change in political dynamic. The people of the state moved away from both of the main parties and the Progressive Movement began.

While the Progressives were successful in creating positive reform and chasing out corruption, the movement drained away many of the Democratic Party’s members. As their movement ended, the Republicans won the governorship, but the Democratic Party had a distinct voter advantage.

In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president and the Power balance between the Republicans and the Democrats in California equalized. However as Roosevelt’s New Deal policies began to raise the nation out of the depression, Democratic strength mounted. Culbert Olson was elected to the governorship, but his term was rocky and both parties organized against him. Shortly thereafter, Earl Warren and the Republicans seized power again.[5]

The California Democratic Party needed a new strategy to regain power in the state. A strategy reorganization and popular mobilization emerged and resulted in the creation of the California Democratic Council. The CDC as it became known was a way for members of the party from all levels of government to come together and as such the party became more unified. A new network of politically minded civilians and elected officials emerged and the party was stronger for it.[6] Despite the fact that the council struggled in the cold war era, due to republican strength and issues such as the Vietnam War, it still exists today.[7]

In 1992, California was hurting more than most states, from a national recession. The Cold War had ended and the public was disenchanted with the Republicans' 12-year-hold in the White House, and 10 year domination of the governorship.

The California Democratic Party began re-organizing in 1991 and in 1992, won the greatest victories in the history of California—not only with President Clinton winning California's 54 electoral votes—but also with the election of two women Democratic U.S. Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

Even though redistricting (reapportionment) was executed by a Republican State Supreme Court, California Democrats in November 1992 had increased their margin at all levels—Congressional, State Assembly and in the State Senate.

In 1994 California Democrats suffered a setback by losing the governor's race for the fourth time in a row, and the Democrats became a minority in the State Assembly. However despite $29 million spent by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Huffington, Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein won re-election.

The 1996 elections proved to be a dramatic turnaround from the results of 1994, as President Bill Clinton won California's 54 electoral votes for a second consecutive time. Three Republican Congressman were also defeated, including Bob Dornan in the conservative stronghold of Orange County. In addition, California Democrats also regained the majority in the State Assembly while adding to their majority in the State Senate.[8]

1998 was a banner year for California Democrats. An overwhelming majority of Californians elected Gray Davis, the first Democratic Governor in 16 years and re-elected U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Six of eight candidates for statewide constitutional offices won including Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Treasurer Phil Angelides, Controller Kathleen Connell and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin. In addition, California Democrats increased their majority in the State Assembly from 43 to 48 and also in the State Senate from 23 to 25.

Holding off a national Republican trend in 2002, California Democrats won all eight statewide offices for the first time since 1882. Governor Gray Davis, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and State Treasurer Phil Angelides were all re-elected while Steve Westly was elected State Controller, Kevin Shelley was elected Secretary of State, John Garamendi was elected Insurance Commissioner and Jack O'Connell was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This feat was repeated again in 2010, when, despite massive Republican gains nationwide, the California Democratic Party swept all the statewide offices being contested, maintained its 34-19 edge in the 53-member U.S. House delegation (the 34-member California Democratic House delegation is larger than the entire 32-member House delegation of Texas), and won one additional seat (thus increasing their majority) in the State Assembly while maintaining their current majority in the State Senate.

[edit] Elected officials

The following is a list of Democratic statewide, federal, and legislative officeholders as of January 10, 2011:

[edit] Statewide constitutional officers

As of January 10, 2011, Democrats hold all eight elected statewide constitutional offices:

[edit] Federal officers for the 112th United States Congress

[edit] U.S. Senate

Both of California's seats in the U.S. Senate have been under Democratic control since 1992:

  • Class I: Dianne Feinstein (Senior Senator)
    Senior senator Feinstein
  • Class III: Barbara Boxer (Junior Senator; Chief Deputy Whip of the Democratic Majority)
    Junior Senator Boxer

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

Of the 53 seats California is apportioned in the U.S. House following the 2000 census, 34 are held by the Democrats:

[edit] Board of Equalization, State Senate, & State Assembly

[edit] Board of Equalization

Democrats hold three of the five seats on the State Board of Equalization: two of the four district-based seats, and the at-large ex officio seat reserved for the incumbent State Controller, who in this instance is Democrat John Chiang.

[edit] State Senate

Democrats hold a 25-15 edge in the 40-member State Senate at the start of the 2011-2012 session. The Democrats have been the majority party in the Senate continuously since 1956.

[edit] State Assembly

Democrats hold a 52-28 majority in the 80-seat California State Assembly, with one vacancy belonging to a seat recently held by the Republican Party. The Democrats have been the majority party in the Assembly continuously since 1996.

[edit] Mayoral offices

Some of the state's major cities have Democratic mayors. In 2011, Democrats control the mayor's offices in seven of California's ten largest cities:

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Contact Us." California Democratic Party. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvLRK7O3E&b=33602
  3. ^ Williams Hal, "The Democratic Party and California Politics 1880 - 1896" (Stanford University Press, California, 1973)
  4. ^ Williams Hal, "The Democratic Party and California Politics 1880 - 1896" (Stanford University Press, California, 1973)
  5. ^ http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvLRK7O3E&b=33602
  6. ^ Bell Jonathan, "Social Democracy and the Rise of the Democratic Party in California 1950 - 1964" (The Historical Journal)
  7. ^ http://www.cdc-ca.org/
  8. ^ http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvLRK7O3E&b=33602
  9. ^ http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2010/09/mayor-miguel-pulido-endorsed-by-the-democratic-party-of-orange-county/

[edit] External links

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