California is arguably the worst-run state in the country.
The list of malfeasances goes well beyond the state’s Governor.
And a California lawyer is trying to drag Donald Trump to court for the most cynical reason ever.
California AG
California Governor Gavin Newsom has made a name for himself in the national spotlight by going against Donald Trump and other Republicans.
It’s no secret that the California Governor has Presidential ambitions.
But a lesser-known California Democrat is emerging in the solidly Blue State.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is battling with the new Trump administration, especially on the immigration issue.
Up until recently, the Golden State Attorney General has mostly been in Governor Newsom’s shadow.
He has warned state and local law enforcement against working with federal authorities and vowed to defend illegal aliens from deportation.
Most recently, he sued Donald Trump over his executive order to end birthright citizenship.
The Democrat-controlled California legislature is sending Bonta’s office $25 million for court battles against the Trump administration.
Whether Bonta plans to try to ride his newfound visibility into the Governor’s mansion remains to be seen.
If he stays where he is, he has an easy reelection.
But the primary to succeed Newsom may have some big names in it.
Former Representative Katie Porter has signaled the possibility of a run, and she is better known than Bonta.
Then there is the possibility that Kamala Harris decides to run for Governor, which would effectively shut out Bonta, Porter, and other Democrats from the race.
In any case, engaging in battles with Trump is sure to boost Bonta’s political career in California.
His predecessor, Xavier Becerra had sued the Trump administration over 120 times.
Becerra went on to serve in the Biden administration and is also considering a run for California Governor.
Bonta is one of several attorneys general from the Blue States who are suing over Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order.
Mike Madrid, a Never-Trumper Republican political consultant, downplayed Bonta’s role in the suit.
“He’ll just be one of many to do this, and I’m not too sure California is the right place to lead the fight politically,” He said. “The AG’s positions are notable and virtuous and probably representative of the people of California, so it’s the right place to be. But in terms of building a national political platform, I don’t see that.”
Still, doing anything anti-Trump is likely to elevate Bonta’s political career in California.
Bonta is also an immigrant from the Philippines and reportedly takes the issue personally.
“This issue is incredibly personal to him,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, who is joining Bonta in the lawsuit “starting from his youngest days.”
A federal Judge recently put a hold on enforcement of Trump’s executive order at the request of Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and three other Democrat attorneys general.
The legal battle over birthright citizenship is sure to be a long one, that seems to inevitably be destined to be decided by the Supreme Court.
