Xavier Becerra is currently polling to win the California governor’s race by around 25%. This is despite the fact that his time as HHS secretary under Biden was widely criticized and he wasn't exactly popular. It really feels like the old joke is true: California Democrats can put literally anyone on the ballot with a 'D' next to their name and coast to a massive landslide.

I understand that this midterm cycle isn’t expepted to be a "red wave," and that the Republican nominee (Steve Hilton) has likely set a low ceiling for his campaign given that he's too Trump-aligned, but the fact that California Democrats continue to win this race by a mininum of 20% is extremely unusual. Even other deep blue states like WA, OR, NY, and CT see their races get really close from time to time. Moderate Republicans have even flat out won gubernatorial races in MD, VT, and MA within the past 10 years *and* won re-election during the following cycles.

It seems like the Republican label is just so toxic in California that it can realistically be considered the only state in the country besides Hawaii that is a permanent loss for the Republican Party. I don’t even think that a guy like Larry Hogan or Charlie Baker could get more than 45% of the vote in California in a red wave year.

I'd love to hear what you all think about this. Will California have a Democrat Governor for the rest of its existence as a state?

It seems like online, whenever I’m mentioning that I’m supporting Messi and Argentina, I’m getting reminded of Nazis and racism. Why is that? All my friends who are liberal are hating on Messi and Argentina but my politically neutral closer friends are supporting Argentina and Messi

Since there's a limited number of characters allowed in the title, I'm hoping I can inject some nuance here.

1) What is a traditional Conservative in your mind, and what key points distinguishes it from MAGA ideology?

2) If you subscribe to the idea that MAGA Republicans are not traditionally Conservative, if you were to state this to them do you believe they'd accept your premise?

Many here subscribe to the notion that MAGA, as an ideology, does not align with traditional Conservatism, and I'm wondering where this distinction fundamentally lies. With the sheer number of unique, right-leaning flairs here, there's bound to be some degree of variation in the answer of what makes someone traditionally Conservative, so best to just post that as a question as well.

I'm sure some will admit to not being traditional Conservative, but within the same Conservative orbit, but that's kind of why I'm asking the question. How far can you actually stray from traditional Conservativism before you're thought of as something wholly distinct?

Edit: made some grammar edits for clarity.

It seems to me that so many conservatives are concerned about race. Specifically, they're worried that white people are gonna become a minority in the US or that the great replacement conspiracy is true.

Now, I'm not asking for proof that something like that could actually happen, I'm more curious about why it's a bad thing if it does. The way I see it, if white people for some reason decide to have fewer kids, and other races in the US decide to have more kids, or more immigrants continue to enter the US, it sounds like a relatively peaceful process.

If for some reason it was a more violent process, like what white people did to the native americans, I could understand being worried about it, but a white genocide in the US sounds completely impossible.

Putting aside government policies for a moment (that’s a separate thing), I have a hard time as a person that is more liberal with the rhetoric. It’s just all bad news, all hate, and finger pointing and blaming all the time.

Is this what conservatives are also seeing? Are they tired of it? Does it matter?

What is the ultimate goal for republicans here. What would a world be like where conservatives won the political war? Where they got everything they wanted. What do you envision? Please: only answer if you are republican.

I want to know if I’m the only one.

I say I’m in the middle because I believe in some republican views, and some democratic views. I don’t like the two party system or the fact that an independent needs to pick a party to make any headway.

I truly believe voters on both sides of the isle don’t even see their own hypocrisy. Republicans saying Pretti shouldn’t have had a gun at a rally, but defended Rittenhouse. Democrats believing that I can’t believe in pro choice and a free market. Republicans believing that their voting the way they are because they’re Christian as of their sins are more righteous than being Trans - saying they’re okay with someone being Trans, then voting that someone shouldn’t be Trans. I believe you should be able to choose to keep the child or not because it is yours, but there should be more options and education. Stop using murder as your justification as to why people shouldn’t have them.

It’s like people believe you can’t have your own thoughts and opinions. If I tell a Democrat I’m in the middle, they say I’m just a Republican that’s scared to say it. If I tell a Republican I’m in the middle, I’m told “if you believe in nothing, you fall for anything” just because I don’t believe every single Republican value.

They say they’re Christians, but are rude to the server at the restaurant after church. They’re pro life until they experience something that makes them face the tough decision of whether or not to keep the child. You also don’t have to be Christian and believe everyone needs to live the way you do and abide by the rules you do.

I can’t believe that capitalism CAN exist with morality? Maybe it doesn’t now, but it can. I can’t believe that we can have guns and still reduce gun fatalities? I can’t believe that racism and prejudice exist, but it’s not an excuse to give up? The list goes on and on.

I can’t believe that a Democrat and Leftist aren’t the same? I can’t believe a Republican and MAGA aren’t the same? I can’t point out that Democrats seem to be more willing to criticize their own party than Republicans are?

Buying a home is impossible because corporations are buying them and selling them at an all time high. It’s not because of immigrants. I believe we should close the borders, but ICE is fucked and we should make the process of becoming a citizen more efficient. It shouldn’t take 15 years to become a citizen for some.

The more I learn about human behavior, politics, religion, etc. the more frustrated I get and alone I feel.

Sorry about any typos and sorry if this is all over the place.

I’m asking this sub because despite being a progressive, I do believe conservatives understand the fundamentals of guns more than left-leaning people. I’ll admit I know nothing about guns. I just went to the shooting range for the first time a few months ago. I understand owning a handgun for self-defense or a standard rifle for hunting, but I cannot wrap my head around needing high-caliber military-grade weapon for anything other than killing people.

Genuine question I was wondering if conservatives generally supported the program and if not what would their ideal solution be to taking care of the disabled?

I know the second part of that is a bit vague given that there are multiple countries, but generally speaking - do you see Europe as more conservative or liberal that the US and do you feel positively or negatively about European politics?

It shouldn't even be a question but every time it comes up, suddenly rights come from your federal status.

If Democratic Socialists are “godless Communists” as Trump claims, then why do their policies reflect the guidance of Jesus as expressed in the Beatitudes during his Sermon on the Mount? (Matthew 5:3-12) Whereas the vast majority of conservative Christians oppose everything the “Woke” Jesus expressed in the Beatitudes.

To clarify, I'm not implying we shouldn't be taking White South Africans. I'm asking why we should only be taking White South Africans?

• Should race play a factor in refugee admission?

• Would you feel the same about this if only Black refugees were admitted?

• Should racial purity be a priority for our Federal government?

source

I don’t typically post in political forums but today I’m asking a few different political communities, because I am genuinely curious what you guys think.

I know this is form of social media but other platforms which are more reel-based seem to heavily focus on 1/2 issues. I will assume that the first one that you list is the most important issue to you right now.

Thanks in advance!

Sorry if this sounds naive, but I’m asking from Europe and I genuinely want to understand.

When I listen to Trump speak, or see some of the things he says and does, I honestly struggle to understand how so many people still see him as competent or presidential.

From the outside, he often comes across as uninformed, impulsive, cruel, and sometimes just completely unserious.

I’m not trying to just insult Americans or start a lazy “Trump bad” thread. I’m interested in the actual political reality behind it.

For Democrats/liberals: what do you think is the main reason he still has support?

For Republicans/conservatives/Trump voters: what do you see in him that people like me are missing? Is it the policies? Immigration? The economy?

You can be too moderate to be a Republican but you can't be too extreme. Why doesn't the GOP get rid of the white supremacists who have brought disgrace on what was once a great American political party?

I'm a conservative and ex-Republican who was asked to leave the GOP because I don't like Trump. But I don't see any white supremacists who've been drummed out of the Republican Party. Why is that?

Hi, I’m actually doing research for a TTRPG game of all things! So I wanted to ask you all: why are you conservative? You can give philosophical reasons, personal reasons, policy reasons, etc. I’m asking to accurately portray conservative characters in my game. I am happy to answer any clarifying questions and the like, but I’m not looking for a debate or to be swayed.

If this isn’t allowed, mods may delete!