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Caitlyn could win California

Is this the next governor of California? (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)

April 27, 2021 - 11:15am

Back in 2015, Caitlyn Jenner’s political career was a punchline: a deranged fantasy concocted by the creators of South Park (where Jenner played the role of Vice President to a Trumpian figure whose campaign slogan — and indeed, entire platform — was that he would dispense with America’s enemies by “f***ing them all to death.”)

But now, Jenner has emerged as a real-life contender for office, having announced her intention to run for Governor of California.

Jenner’s candidacy is an interesting wrinkle in what will already be an unusual race. The election itself is predicated on a recall to unseat current Governor Gavin Newsom, whose approval ratings took a nosedive during the coronavirus pandemic. Jenner is among those who criticised Newsom for his response to Covid, which included a mini-scandal in which the governor was caught flouting his own lockdown restrictions at a fancy restaurant while his constituents were trapped at home. But what kind of platform and promises can we expect when she hits the California campaign trail?

First, despite her Republican party affiliation and reality TV roots, Jenner is not the second coming of Donald Trump. (While she supported Trump in 2016, she denounced him midway through his presidency for his administration’s role in pursuing anti-trans policies, including a ban on allowing transgender Americans to serve in the military.) Instead, she describes her personal politics as “economically conservative, socially progressive,” and believes that California has been in thrall too long to corrupt Democratic politicians who control the state via one-party rule.

In practice, this is most likely to translate into a pretty average Republican platform, one that promises to reinvigorate the struggling state with tax cuts and other incentives to keep people living and doing business there, but minus the conservative and anti-LGBT rhetoric that alienates young voters (and particularly the ultra-liberal media and technology classes upon whom California’s economy depends.) Anyone who replaces Newsom will be hoping to reverse the exodus that has occurred within the past few years — which the state’s ultra-strict lockdown measures has only accelerated — as people frustrated by California’s notoriously high taxes and cost of living have fled to places like Nevada and Texas.

And while Jenner hasn’t yet invoked the historic nature of her candidacy (if elected, she’d be the first transgender governor ever to serve in the U.S.), she is leaning into her reputation for “disrupting” the status quo, invoking both her trans activism and her Olympic win as proof of her ability to be an unconventional, independent-minded leader.

In fact, the most interesting thing about Jenner probably won’t be her policies, but the colour she brings to the race — which gives her a better than average chance of winning. After all, the last time California recalled its governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger ended up taking office. And while Jenner doesn’t enjoy the same bipartisan popularity as Arnie did during his 2003 run, she’s got the time, money, and media savvy to make herself look similarly good to voters before they head to the polls in November.


Kat Rosenfield is an UnHerd columnist and co-host of the Feminine Chaos podcast. Her latest novel is You Must Remember This.

katrosenfield

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Marcus Leach
Marcus Leach
3 years ago

A woman that can win gold in the men’s decathlon at the Olympics is obviously a fierce competitor.

George Glashan
George Glashan
3 years ago

Millionaire?, check. Celebrity?, check. An advert for progressive affirmation of a sexual disfunction?, check. Bruce is a shoe in for governor in Americas freakiest state.

Galeti Tavas
Galeti Tavas
3 years ago
Reply to  George Glashan

Oregon?

George Glashan
George Glashan
3 years ago
Reply to  Galeti Tavas

as soon as i wrote it I immediately thought of Portland, maybe i rephrase to the freakiest sunniest state? I have family that used to live in California, they’ve since moved to Nevada, hopefully the madness of Cali won’t follow them there. i think California’s surrounding states have a good argument for building a wall around it to contain the infection

Andrew Harvey
Andrew Harvey
3 years ago

Please don’t write about these people.

James Watson
James Watson
3 years ago

What is the point of calling her Bruce? And referring to “ these people”? I’d hoped the commenters here were better than that. You can be civil and still deplore the current trans hysteria.

Aaron Kevali
Aaron Kevali
3 years ago
Reply to  James Watson

Because he is Bruce. And trans hysteria has killed any sympathy many people may have once had for these people. When they come for kids, it is no longer time for civility.

George Glashan
George Glashan
3 years ago
Reply to  James Watson

True civility is warranted, but my attitude to it is that the truth should be told. Maybe a fairer way to refer to individuals like this would be to say. “Catelyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner (male),….” its wordy but its the truth and so far as i can see inoffensive ( other than to people who are offended by the past) to be fair to Catelyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner (male) i don’t think he is one who is hiding his past identity or accomplishments

Aaron Kevali
Aaron Kevali
3 years ago
Reply to  George Glashan

Don’t indulge them George, come on, we’ve seen where this leads.

mike otter
mike otter
3 years ago

Go Jenner – in a place as corrupt as California time, money and media savvy are helpful, but Olympic golds, motor racing success and no small amount of acting skill is probably her strongest suite

Aaron Kevali
Aaron Kevali
3 years ago
Reply to  mike otter

Well, Bruce is certainly acting quite well as a lady.

Aaron Kevali
Aaron Kevali
3 years ago

Life imitating art…
South Park is prescient, and at first I thought they were a little unfair on old Bruce’s facial surgeries, but good grief! It really is as terrible as they depicted it.

M Spahn
M Spahn
3 years ago

An ecomomic Republican but woke-ish is exactly the last thing I would want, but I’m not a Californian.

B Zar
B Zar
3 years ago

Bruce Jenner was never the brightest bulb; now as Caitlyn she’s even dimmer. But if getting elected governor keeps her from driving and killing someone, perhaps it’s worth it.

Aaron Kevali
Aaron Kevali
3 years ago

Caitlyn is stunning and beautiful Lillian. And the fact is that YOU, as a cis-woman, wouldn’t understand what she has been through in her quest to become a brave role model for people everywhere.
Just kidding, he is really quite insane.

Last edited 3 years ago by Aaron Kevali
Gerald gwarcuri
Gerald gwarcuri
3 years ago

Please. Jenner is not a she. Except in some fantasy world like Wonderland. Oh. I forgot. I live in California. This is Wonderland. The Mad Hatter would be right at home here. The inmates are running the asylum.
When he competed in the Olympics, Bruce, aka “Caitlyn” Jenner’s Achilles heel was his feet. In running events he would wear his signature T-shirt with the caption “Feet, don’t fail me now!”
Fast forward to the present. The Republican Party in Wonderland is toast. Burnt toast. Only a party in utter disarray could contemplate running a candidate who can’t tell what gender he is. What’s next? We might as well nominate a potted plant for Governor. At least it wouldn’t have an identity complex.

Last edited 3 years ago by Gerald gwarcuri
Niobe Hunter
Niobe Hunter
3 years ago

Glasshouse, meet stone.
My very own Member of Parliament , Layla Moron, claims to be ‘pan sexual’, although her constituency office does not appear to know what this means, or at least, is unwilling to share this knowledge with me.
Dawn Butler MP, until recently a shadow minister, says she does not believe that children are born with a definite sex, in spite of having given birth to several herself.
Penny Mordaunt has stated in Parliament that ‘ trans women are women’.

Terry Needham
Terry Needham
3 years ago

I don’t care who they elect as Governor.

Andrew Thompson
Andrew Thompson
3 years ago
Reply to  Terry Needham

Popeye’d do for me, they live in a million miles from us fantasy world out there anyway.

mike otter
mike otter
3 years ago

Don’t mistake California for Hollyweird – viva Alta California cabrón

Shahzia Teja
Shahzia Teja
3 years ago

This will be one to watch.

Russ Littler
Russ Littler
3 years ago

Newsome won’t be governor by November, there’s already over a million signatures demanding his recall. He’s toast.

Alex Delszsen
Alex Delszsen
3 years ago

In the 80s, men very happily wore frilly blouses and makeup, and frosted their hair. They were still men, whether gay or straight. Now I am unsure which pronouns to use for a man in a frilly blouse or for a woman who might be a butch d**e or a trans man.
Just personally, wanting to have a shoe closet and spend hours styling my hair and applying lashes is not a measure of my being female. It is a strange force (to me) that compels someone so strongly to wanting to be a Kardashian-style make-up princess all day. Well, different strokes…

Last edited 3 years ago by Alex Delszsen
J Bryant
J Bryant
3 years ago

I’d love to see real political change in California but the democrats have such a lock on power there, I’m not sure Jenner or any other republican candidate can win.