ELECTORAL POLARIZATION
AND THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY
How to engage
Introduction
Marc Burgat
Vice President of Government Relations
California Chamber of Commerce
History of polarization

Printing Press (1454)
 Prior

books cost $25k
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
 Protestant
reformation
 Theses reprinted 250+k

200 years of great sectarianism – one of bloodiest
times
History Repeats Itself

The Internet
 Fully

commercialized in 1995
Talk Radio Popularity increased in 1990s
1987, the FCC’s “Fairness Doctrine” (1949) was
repealed
 Mandated that “controversial issues of public
importance” be presented in a way that was “honest,
equitable and balanced”
 In

Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight blog, NY Times
Term Limits
(and other efforts to avoid a repeat)

Prop 140 (1990)
 Assembly
Three 2-year terms
 Senate Two 8-year terms

Many believed the imposition of term limits would
redirect power to the third-house (lobbyists)
 Instead,
power and influence have been consolidated
by party leadership

Term Limits Change in 2012
 One
12-Year term
History of “Gerrymandering”
Elbridge Gerry (1812)



Power to redraw districts lines fell to the state
legislature which has been Democraticallydominated for much of the past half century
Every new map tended to lean toward maintaining
the status quo
Some districts were specifically drawn to
strategically benefit the electability of the
incumbent, such as the “Stockton finger” or Central
Coast of California
Redistricting

Prop 11 (November 2008), Prop 20 (November
2010)
 Created
Citizens’ Redistricting Commission
 Commissioners redrew district lines without regard to
where incumbents currently live or which constituents
they currently represent
 Districts drawn with an eye to natural geography
Election System Precludes Change



CA incumbents won re-election over 85% of the
time in the past several decades
Ridiculous victory margins
In heavily Democratic or Republican areas,
incumbents would face no opposition or a weak
challenger of the disadvantaged party
Election Change to Foster Change
(and Moderation)

Prop 14 (June 2010)
 “Jungle”
 The
or “top two” primary system
two candidates receiving the most votes move on to
the general election regardless of party
Outcome of These Efforts

38 open seats in the Assembly due to term limits
and nonpartisan redistricting
 22
Democratic
 12 Republican
 4 competitive

Incumbents are leaving office or facing the first
serious challenges of their political careers
Moderation in action

New election rules and redistricting have produced
20 races with incumbents facing challengers of their
same party
 11
Democrat vs. Democrat in the Assembly
 2 Democrat vs. Democrat in the Senate
 7 Republican vs. Republican in the Assembly
 *1 Democrat vs. NPP in the Assembly
What This Means








No incumbent here for more than 4 years (Assembly) – 6
Years (Senate)
The new crop of Legislators will be here for 12 years –
Power shift
Business must get involved in primary and before!
Critical to moderate Legislature for future economic health
JobsPAC engaged
Engage before you need something
Everybody has to work to get to know new Legislators
Prop 32…
Thank you
Marc Burgat
Vice President of Government Relations
California Chamber of Commerce
marc.burgat@calchamber.com