Policy Analysis โ€” June 2026

Political Structure: Why Nothing Changes

One-party supermajority. Union-funded campaigns. Gerrymandered maps. And 13 years without accountability.

Senate
30-10
Democrat supermajority
Assembly
60-20
Democrat supermajority
Governor
Dem
Since 2011 (continuous)
Supermajority Since
2012
13+ years unbroken

California: A One-Party State

Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers, the governorship, and every statewide office

California is one of eight states where a single party holds a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers. Democrats have held this power continuously since 2012 -- over 13 years.

A supermajority means Republicans cannot block any legislation, any budget item, any constitutional amendment referral, or any tax increase. The minority party is functionally irrelevant to governance.

Voter registration as of February 2025: 45.3% Democrat, 24.1% No Party Preference, and declining Republican registration. In many districts, the only competitive election is the Democratic primary.

This is not a commentary on whether Democratic policies are good or bad. It is a structural observation: when one party faces no opposition, accountability breaks down. Even Democratic State Senator Bill Dodd acknowledged: "I certainly don't think it's good for democracy overall."

What Supermajority Means in Practice

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No Budget Check

Can pass any budget without a single Republican vote. Spending has nearly doubled since supermajority was achieved.

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No Tax Check

Can raise taxes with a 2/3 vote -- which they have. Gas tax increases, income tax hikes, new fees -- all passed on party-line votes.

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No Amendment Check

Can place constitutional amendments on the ballot without any Republican support. Can change the rules of the game unilaterally.

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Primary Is the Election

In 11 Assembly races in 2024, two Democrats faced each other. The general election was decided before November.

Sources: EIA, CAISO, CA Energy Commission, CPUC, CA Legislative Analyst, NRC, AAA, GasBuddy, Tax Foundation, MIT/Stanford, Kpler, Bloomberg, Reuters, CalMatters, UC Davis. March 2026.
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