May 19th 2024.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, a highly debated figure, took to the stage as a featured speaker at the California Republican Convention this weekend. The event, held in Burlingame, was filled with passionate party members looking to strategize and motivate each other for the upcoming November election.
In her speech, Noem wasted no time in attacking Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden. She urged state Republicans to show their support for local and national candidates as well as ballot measures. Noem made a bold statement, highlighting the stark contrast between herself and Newsom. She questioned whether Newsom ever considers the constitution in his decisions, referring to his actions during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She further criticized Newsom, claiming that he simply does whatever he wants without considering the consequences, which has seemingly worked in his favor.
Noem did not hold back in her criticism of Biden either, calling out his loose border policies and strict COVID-19 restrictions. She also mentioned her ongoing battle against what she calls "fake news." However, unlike the often-controversial former president Donald Trump, Noem encouraged her supporters to engage in civil dialogue with those who may have different opinions. She emphasized the importance of diversity in perspectives and backgrounds when creating laws and governing a country.
Noem was once considered a potential running mate for Trump, but political experts believe that is no longer a possibility. This is due to a recent revelation in her book where she shared about shooting and killing her dog, which has angered both Republicans and Democrats. Jack Pitney, a political science professor, and former member of the Republican Party, shared that Noem's selection as a speaker was made before this controversy came to light. He humorously added that it seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, "that dog won't hunt."
Noem addressed the controversy briefly, encouraging people to read her book to get the whole story. At the convention, attendees showed little concern about the dog welfare issues. Sacramento County GOP chairwoman Betsy Mahan dismissed the issue, suggesting that those who care about dogs should adopt from a shelter. Pamela Neitte-Garcia, treasurer of the Contra Costa Republican Party, focused on Noem's message of listening to different views to bring about better laws and government. She believed that Noem had a great message of being less divisive and improving communication between people.
Although the Bay Area is known for voting Democrat, Neitte-Garcia shared that conservatives in Contra Costa are highly engaged and miss Trump's policies. The convention tickets ranged from $300 to $575, and the California Republican Party expected at least 1,000 attendees. However, in San Mateo County, where the convention was held, only 14.4% of registered voters are Republican, while a significant majority of 56% are Democrats.
One notable absence from the convention was GOP Senate hopeful Steve Garvey, who will face Rep. Adam Schiff in the November runoff for California's open U.S. Senate seat. Pitney believes that Garvey's absence shows he is not serious about his candidacy. He added that Republicans are focusing on the few races they have a chance of winning, particularly some House races.
When reached for comment, Garvey's spokesperson Andy Gharakani did not respond. The convention's guest speaker list did not include Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, the former president's daughter-in-law, who was scheduled to speak at the Saturday night dinner banquet, which marks the end of the two-day conference.
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