California Assemblyman-District 8
California Assemblyman David Tangipa (District 8) joined Ag Meter to discuss the future of California politics, agriculture, and representation, with a sharp focus on redistricting, election integrity, and the growing disconnect between Sacramento leadership and rural communities.
Honoring Doug LaMalfa and the Cost of Redistricting Chaos
Tangipa opened by honoring the late Congressman Doug LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer and longtime advocate for Northern California agriculture. Tangipa described LaMalfa as a close friend and a model representative who understood farming because he lived it. LaMalfa’s passing, Tangipa said, is deeply felt—not only personally, but politically—especially as California navigates a confusing redistricting process tied to Proposition 50.
According to Tangipa, ongoing lawsuits over Prop 50 could force candidates into overlapping special elections across completely different districts, creating uncertainty and weakening rural representation. He argues the maps were drawn using race rather than neutral geographic standards, violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and exposing California to lawsuits similar to those Texas and Louisiana lost in 2021.
Why Breaking Sacramento’s Supermajority Matters More Than the Governor
While Tangipa expressed support for Steve Hilton in the governor’s race, he stressed that the real power problem lies in Sacramento’s legislative supermajority. Even a reform-minded governor, he said, can have vetoes overturned instantly.
Breaking that supermajority, Tangipa emphasized, runs straight through the Central Valley—including Merced, Madera, Tulare, Kings County, Kern County, and Bakersfield. He highlighted key races and urged voters to support candidates who can restore balance and stop what he called a “criminal-first agenda” in the legislature.
Election Integrity, Voter ID, and Following the Money
Tangipa strongly defended voter ID and citizenship verification, noting that more than one million signatures have already been collected to place voter ID on the ballot. He called on farmers and agricultural leaders to volunteer and help restore trust in elections.
He also pointed to growing investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse, encouraging Californians to follow officials who are tracing where taxpayer money is really going. Tangipa criticized California’s nonprofit industrial complex, arguing it launders public funds back into political networks while problems like homelessness and infrastructure failures remain unsolved.
High-Speed Rail: A Costly Failure for Farmers
The discussion turned to California’s high-speed rail project, which Tangipa called one of the worst-managed infrastructure efforts in state history. He noted that some farmers whose land was taken—particularly in the Central Valley—may eventually be able to buy it back for pennies on the dollar if the project collapses.
While Tangipa supports infrastructure in principle, he rejects a government-funded project that is massively over budget, poorly planned, and unlikely to be completed. He described high-speed rail as “the most expensive Stonehenge in history.”
A Message to California Agriculture Tangipa closed with a clear call to action: stay engaged, stop leaving the state, volunteer, and run for office. California’s problems, he said, are man-made—and fixable—but only if farmers and rural communities step up to fight for their future.