By James Bradley Photo by Yuri Arcurs
The Rise of Socialist Influence and Deceptive Legislation in California
COMMENTARY–The history of socialist politicians in California reveal a long-standing pattern of ideological infiltration. That surge has paved the way for deceptive practices undermining voter rights and state independence. From Job Harriman’s 1898 Socialist Labor Party campaign to Upton Sinclair’s 1934 “End Poverty in California” (EPIC) socialist blueprint, which nearly captured the governorship, socialist ideas have taken root. Figures like Ron Dellums, a Democratic Socialist elected to Congress in 1970, and activists like Angela Davis have pushed policies that critics argue erode individual freedoms.
These socialist-leaning politicians backed bills with misleading language that misrepresents their true purposes. These practices that are likened to “false advertising” undermine California’s independence and voter rights. For example, AB 2655 (Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act) claims to protect elections but imposes broad speech restrictions, potentially silencing dissent under the guise of “election integrity. Here’s another example. SB 1174 was misrepresented in viral claims as eliminating voter ID requirements with fact-checks posted online stating it doesn’t fully ban ID, when the bill posed legal threats to local municipalities and counties that implement voter ID requirements. Citizens are left confused. Another example is AB 1104 (2017), which was a failed “fake news” ban that aimed to curb misinformation but risked censoring free speech with vague terms. Then, there was the ballot harvesting bill, which was promoted as a means to gather ballots from “hard to reach” voters. After the bill passed, it was criticized as “political weaponization” in a congressional report, and a legalized lax of enforcement of electioneering laws. These deceptive practices enable fraud and voter intimidation after the laws are passed. Voters who now see the true intent of a deceptive bill after it passes can only combat the bill with a lawsuit against the state of California or by starting a citizen initiative that costs millions. Such deceptive bills can result in laws which have national and international implications especially when the new law seems in opposition to federal law, like the election bills I’ve mentioned above that weaken election integrity. Prop 50, with its misleading “anti-rigging” title, continues this trend, threatening to entrench socialist-leaning control and diminish the citizen’s voice of America.
The Current Legislature: A Supermajority Machine of Overreach
As of September 2025, California’s current legislature exemplifies a one-party dominance with a Democratic supermajority. Currently, there are 30 Democrats and 10 Republicans in the 40-member Senate, and 62 Democrats and 18 Republicans in the 80-member Assembly. This lopsided composition enabled the passage of thousands of laws over recent sessions, with over 1,000 laws passed in 2023 alone. Incrementally these lopsided laws strip citizens of rights by centralizing power in government hands through excessive regulations, mandates, and taxes that choke the life out of everyday Californians.
From my perspective, these measures represent a relentless assault on personal freedoms. High-profile examples include AB 2943, which escalates retail theft over $950 to a felony only if the perpetrator intends to resell the stolen items, but not if the items were intended for personal use. Critics argue it burdens small retailers with enforcement while ignoring root causes like a growing statewide legal trend that promotes relaxed prosecution. New 2025 laws on housing (over 60 bills signed by Newsom) impose strict affordability mandates and tenant protections that, while well-intentioned, saddle landlords and developers with red tape, driving up costs for all and simultaneously restricting property rights. Employer regulations under AB 2098 (repealed but emblematic) attempted to police medical speech, chilling professional freedoms under the banner of public health. And ongoing tax hikes, like the state’s top income tax rate of 13.3% and new excise taxes on gasoline, extract billions from taxpayers. Yet, the taxes are funding expansive bureaucracies that dictate everything from energy use (via green mandates) to school curricula, leaving families and businesses gasping for air.
This legislative machine doesn’t just govern, it controls. Policies put forth by this supermajority “group think” legislature erode the independence of Californians through a web of over 8,000 active statutes that touch every aspect of life—from what you drive to what your children learn. It’s a blueprint for authoritarian creep, where government swells while individual agency and autonomy shrinks.
Recent press releases touting California as “the best state for families” ring hollow against this backdrop. These promos highlight bills like AB 1936 for maternal mental health screenings and SB 976 to limit kids’ social media use. These measures sound benevolent but expand government oversight into private family decisions, further entrenching institutional control under the guise of support.
Meanwhile, Newsom’s “tightrope walk” on crime reveals him suddenly pushing tougher penalties on retail theft and fentanyl amid recalls of progressive DAs like George Gascon. His quick U-turn on crime is a quiet admission to the failure of his earlier soft-on-crime stance, with violent crime down 10% but property crime perceptions soaring due to homelessness and smash-and-grabs. Quotes from critics like Republican Assemblyman James Gallagher underscore the governor’s repeated contradictions by stating, “Newsom is trying to have it both ways.” Newsom is reversing course only for political gain as he counters Trump’s attacks on California’s “disaster” status and strong enforcement stance on issue like immigration, all while eyeing a 2028 presidential run.
Deception of Centrists and Conservatives Under One-Party Rule
In California, where Democrats hold nearly 45% of voter registrations, Republicans account for about 25%, and no-party-preference voters (often centrists) make up around 23%. A significant portion of centrists and conservatives have been deceived by one-party Democrat rule. Career socialist Democrats have employed deceptive measures to maintain power, misleading voters with mislabeled bills and campaigns. Prop 50 is no exception to this trend. Newsom’s ballot title for Prop 50 frames it as a defense against “election rigging,” but critics argue it abolishes independent redistricting to favor Democrats.
The California Democratic Party ran ads falsely claiming Republicans opposed stronger laws against child sex solicitation, distorting records to sway voters. AB 2098 (2022) was sold as protecting public health by regulating medical misinformation but was criticized as a tool to censor doctors’ free speech. Fortunately, it was repealed after lawsuits exposed its overreach. These tactics mislead centrists and conservatives, who may support “common-sense” reforms only to find they entrench progressive control, diluting their electoral influence and perpetuating one-party dominance with national repercussions.
A Citizen’s Call to Defend America’s Soul
I end each article in this series with the same call. Despite victories like 2024’s Prop 36, which toughened crime laws with 70% support, the citizen’s voice of America in California hangs by a thread. As a independent conservative, I speak in support of citizens, not parties. I implore all who value our nation’s founding principles, rooted in liberty, fairness, and self-governance, to act. Prop 50 is an assault on the U.S. Federal and California State Constitutions’ promises of representation. If it passes, California’s constitutional spirit dies, replaced by unchecked progressivism that threatens our state and nation.
Citizens of America, rise up. Donate, mobilize, vote NO on Prop 50. Our constitutional legacy—the citizen’s voice of America—depends on it. The clock is ticking; defend our nation’s soul before it’s silenced forever.
Sources:
- Emerson College Polling: California 2025 Poll
- Fox News: Soros Donates $10 Million to Newsom’s Redistricting Effort
About the Author
James Bradley, a CA US Senate Candidate for 2028, is also a proud father, and decorated veteran of the Coast Guard who was CEO and CFO after 30 years working in the health industry. James is currently an investigative journalist for Uncensored Beat. His knack to get to the bottom of things to reveal the truth about events rarely covered by mainstream media is uncanny. His investigative work is further enriched by his ability to build teams/communities Together, these attributes attest to James’s great leadership.