DRIVING THE DAY: Gov. Gavin Newsom is on a tour of China, where he’s flexing California’s credentials as a global leader in climate change policy. He started Sunday in Hong Kong, and is scheduled to visit six cities in five provinces, including Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shanghai — where he’ll also make a stop at a Tesla factory. Just this morning, Jeremy B. White tells us about how Newsom is fully embracing the role of climate governor. His visit to Hong Kong has angered U.S.-based human rights organizations, who say his focus on climate issues “sets a problematic tone for future diplomatic engagement” that benefits the territory’s sanctioned leaders. Our intrepid colleague Blanca Bergert is traveling with the governor during his tour. You can read her coverage in the California Climate newsletter. Newsom made his way to Asia after a brief stop in Israel at the end of last week, which included meetings with grieving survivors and Israeli leaders. More on that below… THE BUZZ — Kevin McCarthy was a major source of cash for vulnerable California Republicans. Now they’re heading into a tough year without him. The Bakersfield Republican has always been a prolific fundraiser and recruiter, helping his party flip five House seats in the last few cycles to give the GOP the slim House majority that, for a brief period, put him in the speaker’s office. The aftershocks of McCarthy’s ousting will ripple for months. After three weeks of infighting, House Republicans are still unable to elect a leader. And Californians, who have long enjoyed special attention by having one of their own in the speaker’s office, no longer have that advantage. But it’s the handful of California Republicans in tight Congressional races that could be feeling the squeeze most acutely. So far in 2023, McCarthy has contributed more than $2.4 million to the eight California Republicans targeted by Democrats this election cycle, according to campaign filings. The donations came from four major committees connected to the former speaker, including Protect the House 2024, the joint venture he launched in February with the National Republican Congressional Committee. In total, the funds went to seven vulnerable incumbents and CA-47 candidate Scott Baugh, who is looking to take over Rep. Katie Porter’s purple district in Orange County. - Rep. David Valadao (CA-22): $419,812
- Rep. John Duarte (CA-13): $414,708
- Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-41): $164,603
- Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA-03): $409,092
- Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45): $438,201
- Rep. Mike Garcia (CA-27): $413,760.89
- Rep. Young Kim (CA-40): $133,216.37
- Scott Baugh (CA-47): $12,222
The figures don’t account for McCarthy’s entire influence when it comes to funneling party fundraising to vulnerable Californians, but it does offer a snapshot of what candidates could lose as they enter a critical election cycle.
Fellow House Republicans were quick to decry McCarthy’s removal this month, led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. But aside from one vote from longtime friend Rep. Doug LaMalfa, members haven’t done much publicly to revive the McCarthy era. The House is expected to take another speaker vote Tuesday. In the meantime, the DCCC is using last week’s votes for Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan against California Republicans, calling them enablers of “their party’s worst impulses.” GOOD MORNING. Happy Monday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — What other races are you watching in California? Give us a ring or drop us a line. Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte WHERE’S GAVIN? In China. Follow along with him on the ground by signing up for our daily newsletter on how California’s response to climate change is shaping the future — across industry and government and across politics and policy.
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