Make California Gold Again

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Make California Gold Again
AbbreviationMCGA
Formation2021
TypePolitical movement
PurposePolitical activism in California
HeadquartersRiverside, California, U.S.
Location
Founder
Sarah Stephens

Make California Gold Again is a political movement in California established as the campaign slogan for Sarah Stephens during her 2021 candidacy in the gubernatorial recall election against Governor Gavin Newsom.[1][2] The movement advocates for lowering taxes and reducing government regulations while promoting positions on social issues.[3][4][5] After the 2021 election, the movement has continued to engage in activism including opposition to legislation in state hearings.[6] The slogan reflects a call to restore prosperity in the state.[7][8]

History

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Make California Gold Again started as the campaign theme for Sarah Stephens in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election to replace Governor Gavin Newsom.[9][10] Stephens, a gubernatorial candidate with a Riverside mailing address, was one of 46 replacement candidates on the ballot.[11][12][13][14] Following the election, the movement has persisted with involvement in public hearings such as opposition to bills in the 2024 Assembly Standing Committee on Education.[15] The movement has been connected to events that received attention.[16][17]

Sarah Stephens, the founder of the movement, is a pastor from Riverside County who was born and raised in San Diego.[18][19] She is married and has five children.[20] In 2020, Stephens and her husband reported a combined income of $49,452 and paid $2,530 in federal taxes.[21] Stephens is known as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and became politically active during protests involving groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa in Los Angeles.[22][23]

Ideology and platform

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The movement calls for lowering taxes and regulations along with reducing spending on programs considered unproductive.[24][25] It supports pro-life positions and the right to bear arms.[26] On education, it favors school choice and opposes curricula described as indoctrination while allowing home-schooled and charter school students to join public school activities.[27] The movement opposes restrictions on in-person religious services.[28][29][30][31] Stephens has claimed that vitamin D and sunlight can be used in treatment of COVID-19.[32] The movement aligns with wider conservative initiatives in California.[33]

Activities

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During the 2021 campaign, Stephens participated in a protest in Palos Verdes on August 11, 2021.[34] She addressed a rally in downtown Los Angeles.[35][36] The movement has ties to "Save Our Children" events.[37] On August 29, 2021, Stephens organized a Freedom Rally in Huntington Beach while promoting the Newsom recall.[38][39][40] In 2021, Stephens appeared on media outlets to discuss her campaign and political views.[41] In 2024, representatives from the movement testified against AB 1955 in a state assembly committee hearing.[42]

References

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  1. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Los Angeles Daily News.
  2. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Orange County Register.
  3. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Meet the 4 Inland Empire candidates on the Gavin Newsom recall ballot". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
  4. ^ Andrew Sheeler (August 20, 2021). "A QAnon governor? Three California recall candidates have supported the conspiracy movement". The Sacramento Bee.
  5. ^ Anders Anglesey (September 15, 2021). "QAnon Supporting Candidates Got More Than 11K Votes in California Recall". Newsweek.
  6. ^ "Assembly Standing Committee on Education". CalMatters Digital Democracy. June 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Christian Camarillo (September 2, 2021). "Far-right SoCal politicians support 'Freedom Rally' in Huntington Beach". Talon Marks.
  8. ^ Lois Beckett (September 1, 2021). "'Open season on media': journalists increasingly targeted at Los Angeles protests". The Guardian.
  9. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Los Angeles Daily News.
  10. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Meet the 4 Inland Empire candidates on the Gavin Newsom recall ballot". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
  11. ^ Seema Mehta (September 4, 2021). "Meet the 46 recall candidates challenging Gov. Gavin Newsom". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ Andrew Sheeler (July 18, 2021). "Who are the candidates in the CA recall of Gavin Newsom?". The Sacramento Bee.
  13. ^ "2021 California recall election results". The Washington Post. October 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Statement of Vote - California Gubernatorial Recall Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. October 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "Assembly Standing Committee on Education". CalMatters Digital Democracy. June 26, 2024.
  16. ^ James Queally (August 20, 2021). "Fringe California gubernatorial candidate under fire for helping assailant flee protest". Los Angeles Times.
  17. ^ Robert Mackey (July 18, 2021). "As Transphobes Rally Again at Los Angeles Spa, Police Attack Counterprotesters". The Intercept.
  18. ^ Andrew Sheeler (August 20, 2021). "A QAnon governor? Three California recall candidates have supported the conspiracy movement". The Sacramento Bee.
  19. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Los Angeles Daily News.
  20. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Meet the 4 Inland Empire candidates on the Gavin Newsom recall ballot". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
  21. ^ Sameea Kamal (July 20, 2021). "Six things to know about the Newsom recall candidates' tax returns". CalMatters.
  22. ^ Sameea Kamal (September 13, 2021). "Why the recall election didn't lead to California's first female governor". CalMatters.
  23. ^ David Weigel (June 15, 2021). "The Trailer: Waiting for a California recall date, Republicans are still trying to get traction". The Washington Post.
  24. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Los Angeles Daily News.
  25. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Orange County Register.
  26. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Meet the 4 Inland Empire candidates on the Gavin Newsom recall ballot". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
  27. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Los Angeles Daily News.
  28. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Orange County Register.
  29. ^ Seema Mehta (September 4, 2021). "Meet the 46 recall candidates challenging Gov. Gavin Newsom". Los Angeles Times.
  30. ^ Andrew Sheeler (August 20, 2021). "A QAnon governor? Three California recall candidates have supported the conspiracy movement". The Sacramento Bee.
  31. ^ Anders Anglesey (September 15, 2021). "QAnon Supporting Candidates Got More Than 11K Votes in California Recall". Newsweek.
  32. ^ Seema Mehta (September 4, 2021). "Meet the 46 recall candidates challenging Gov. Gavin Newsom". Los Angeles Times.
  33. ^ David Weigel (August 17, 2021). "The Trailer: In California's recall, Newsom runs on vaccines — Republicans run on Newsom". The Washington Post.
  34. ^ Jeff Horseman (August 30, 2021). "Republican Sarah Stephens running in Sept. 14 Gavin Newsom recall". Los Angeles Daily News.
  35. ^ James Queally (August 20, 2021). "Fringe California gubernatorial candidate under fire for helping assailant flee protest". Los Angeles Times.
  36. ^ Robert Mackey (July 18, 2021). "As Transphobes Rally Again at Los Angeles Spa, Police Attack Counterprotesters". The Intercept.
  37. ^ Andrew Sheeler (August 20, 2021). "A QAnon governor? Three California recall candidates have supported the conspiracy movement". The Sacramento Bee.
  38. ^ Christian Camarillo (September 2, 2021). "Far-right SoCal politicians support 'Freedom Rally' in Huntington Beach". Talon Marks.
  39. ^ Lois Beckett (September 1, 2021). "'Open season on media': journalists increasingly targeted at Los Angeles protests". The Guardian.
  40. ^ Kevin Rector (September 20, 2021). "Assault charge filed in attack on filmmaker at Wi Spa protest". Los Angeles Times.
  41. ^ "Journalist: Anti-Vaccine, Anti-Mask Protesters in L.A. Attacked Me, Called Me Slurs During Rally". Democracy Now!. August 20, 2021.
  42. ^ "Assembly Standing Committee on Education". CalMatters Digital Democracy. June 26, 2024.