California’s Republican Party isn’t just losing—it’s actively helping Democrats win. That’s the damning assessment from Arthur Schaper, a former CAGOP delegate and conservative activist, who lays bare the party’s self-inflicted collapse in a blistering American Thinker op-ed. Once competitive in statewide races, the GOP hasn’t elected a governor or senator since 2006, and its legislative superminority status has rendered it politically irrelevant. But according to Schaper, the problem isn’t just Democratic dominance—it’s a Republican establishment that would rather schmooze donors than fight for power.
The Unholy Alliance: GOP Leaders Who Back Democrats
Schaper’s most explosive claim? Some California Republican officials are literally bankrolling Democrats. He points to the Los Angeles County GOP’s alleged spending to prop up Democratic Mayor Karen Bass against progressive challenger Nithya Raman—a move that backfired when Bass’s Republican ties were exposed. Elsewhere, central committee members have openly endorsed Democratic city council candidates over Republicans. ‘This is the California Republican Party today: the epitome of controlled opposition,’ Schaper writes.
Grassroots vs. Gatekeepers
The infighting goes deeper than stray endorsements. Schaper describes a party apparatus that punishes conservatives while rewarding consultants and social climbers. After his Republican club vocally supported Trump in 2016, the L.A. County GOP revoked its charter on dubious procedural grounds—while turning a blind eye to similar actions by establishment-aligned groups. Meanwhile, Schaper alleges, party insiders treat local committees as patronage networks, jockeying for government jobs rather than building electoral power.
Can Billionaires Save California’s GOP?
With the party’s donor class more interested in photo ops than politics, Schaper pins his hopes on an unlikely rescue squad: Silicon Valley’s tech titans. He points to Colorado, where billionaire-funded organizing flipped a red state blue, as a model. ‘Elon Musk could carry the cause if properly convinced,’ Schaper argues, suggesting Twitter’s free speech revival could be replicated in California politics. Whether any moguls take the bait remains to be seen—but for now, the state’s conservatives are stuck with a party that seems determined to lose.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/11/republican-political-failures-in-california/