In a bold move, Republican state Assembly candidate Carl DeMaio is reviving a controversial immigration message from the past, echoing the sentiments of former California Gov. Pete Wilson. DeMaio, running to represent the GOP in Sacramento, is airing a 30-second TV ad titled “Gov. Pete Wilson Was Right,” challenging the softer immigration stance adopted by the California GOP in recent years.
The ad pays homage to Wilson’s 1994 campaign, marked by support for Proposition 187, which aimed to deny public services to immigrants in the country illegally. While Democrats criticized Wilson for racism and stoking anti-immigrant sentiments, DeMaio argues that the California GOP has been wrong on the immigration issue for the past 30 years.
DeMaio’s ad features a clip from Wilson’s 1994 campaign, emphasizing Wilson’s efforts to force the federal government to control the border. DeMaio goes beyond crediting Wilson, blaming both Democrats and Republicans for the current problems at the southern border. He contends that the California GOP’s abandonment of a tough stance on immigration has exacerbated these issues and failed to help the party win elections.
The ad outlines DeMaio’s plans to secure the border, enact voter-identification laws, deploy more California National Guard to the southern border, rescind sanctuary city policies, and suspend social spending programs for unauthorized immigrants. DeMaio argues that these measures, often aligned with Republican positions in Texas and Florida, will not cause Latinos to drift from the GOP and could, in fact, strengthen the party.
Despite DeMaio’s confidence, the move has garnered criticism. Some see it as a departure from the GOP’s recent, more careful navigation of the immigration issue, especially in a state like California where Latino voters play a crucial role. Republican consultant Mike Madrid suggests DeMaio should focus on issues where polling indicates Latino voters’ concerns.
This bold approach to immigration aligns with DeMaio’s goal of shaking up the status quo and reinforcing his belief that Republicans need to take a more assertive stance on the issue. However, the controversial move is likely to face intense scrutiny and differing opinions within the GOP.
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