A Conversation with Don Wagner: Candidate for California Secretary of State
California’s upcoming election season brings fresh energy and new voices calling for reform. Among them is Don Wagner, former state legislator and current Orange County public servant, now running for Secretary of State. In a recent interview with Ag Meter, Wagner shared his perspective on California’s current challenges—from election integrity and small business struggles to water mismanagement and agricultural decline.
“California Is in Disaster Mode”
When asked why he decided to run, Wagner didn’t mince words:
“California is in disaster mode. We have lots of problems—not least of which are election integrity and the state’s hostility toward business.”
As Wagner explained, the Secretary of State’s office handles two crucial areas—elections and business filings—and both, he says, have suffered under the current administration. “We need to fix that office,” he continued, “and get rid of Gavin Newsom’s appointed Secretary of State. Bring in somebody who has experience in government and understands what it means to govern conservatively and responsibly.”
Wagner, who has served in several leadership positions in Orange County, said his approach would mirror the more functional government California once had under Governor Pete Wilson and Secretary of State Bill Jones—both of whom have endorsed his campaign.
Recognizing the Value of Agriculture
For many Californians—especially those in the Central Valley—agriculture isn’t just an industry; it’s a way of life. Wagner emphasized the importance of recognizing farming as the economic backbone of both the state and the nation.
“We are the breadbasket,” Wagner said. “It’s criminal the way farming gets overlooked and shortchanged by government in California.”
He pointed directly to water mismanagement as the root of much of the state’s agricultural distress. Wagner recounted his time in the state assembly, where he worked on a major water bond initially proposed at $11 billion. “We scaled it back to $8 billion and included two water storage projects,” he explained, “but neither of them have been built—and that was fifteen years ago.”
The result, Wagner said, has been devastating: “We do a terrible job of managing our water supply in California. Who bears the brunt? Certainly the people without clean, affordable water—but especially our farmers.”
A Disconnect Between Sacramento and the Central Valley
Wagner didn’t hold back in criticizing Sacramento’s leadership for its detachment from rural and agricultural realities.
“When I was in the legislature,” Wagner recalled, “the leaders were from Los Angeles and the Bay Area. They have no idea about the Central Valley. To them, it’s flyover country.”
He described how both Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom—“two Bay Area liberals,” as he put it—have sidelined farming in state policy. “Farming isn’t even on their radar,” Wagner said. “But if you want a successful California, you need successful entrepreneurs, farm owners, and business owners.”
He warned that while many business leaders have fled the state due to excessive regulation, farmers are trapped:
“You can’t take the land to Texas or Tennessee. The government in Sacramento has you over the barrel—and it needs to change.”
Water, Oil, and the Ripple Effect on Rural Communities
Wagner agreed with the Ag Meter host that water scarcity and regulatory overreach are slowly killing small towns. Communities like Taft, California, once thriving on oil and agriculture, are now struggling to survive.
“You take water away from these towns in the Central Valley—it’s over,” the host said.
Wagner nodded to the same grim reality, expanding the discussion beyond agriculture:
“They are taking what should be an absolutely marvelous state with enormous resources—not just farming but oil and gas—and mismanaging it into crisis. We could be energy self-sufficient and food secure, but we’ve had criminal levels of mismanagement out of Sacramento.”
Even in affluent Orange County, Wagner noted, food insecurity is a growing problem. “Our food banks are overwhelmed,” he said. “That should never happen in a state as rich as California.”
Tackling California’s “Man-Made Problems”
When asked where he would start if elected Secretary of State, Wagner was realistic but determined.
“It’s not going to be fixed overnight,” he said. “These problems are man-made—they come from bad government and bad policy choices made by Sacramento’s leaders.”
Wagner’s vision is to gradually restore balance by easing the regulatory burden and empowering individuals and businesses to thrive.
“The strength of this state is its people—growing food, creating energy, running businesses. But government keeps driving productive people out of California.”
As Secretary of State, Wagner believes he could use the position’s “bully pulpit” to push for reform in the legislature. “The Secretary of State has the ability to advocate for good bills that help farmers and businesses,” he said, “and to argue strongly against the bad ones.”
He also emphasized his commitment to restoring trust in elections, promising to ensure that “every eligible person can vote—but no one who isn’t entitled to vote will.”
Learning from the Palisades Fire
The conversation turned to the Palisades fires, a recent crisis that left some Los Angeles residents turning on their fire hydrants only to find no water. Wagner said the disaster served as a wake-up call.
“It opened a lot of eyes,” he said. “People saw government failure firsthand.”
In his role on the Orange County Fire Authority Board, Wagner said his district used the tragedy as a learning opportunity. “We asked, ‘What are we doing to make sure that doesn’t happen here?’”
He proudly highlighted the county’s investment in Hella Hydrants—specialized fire hydrants designed for helicopters to refill water tanks during wildfires. “It’s a simple but powerful innovation,” Wagner said. “We used the lesson from LA to make sure Orange County is ready.”
A Fractured Relationship with the Federal Government
Finally, Wagner addressed the growing tension between California and the federal government—a dynamic he believes is hurting local communities.
“We’re in the crosshairs,” Wagner said. “It’s unfair that the people of Orange County are paying the price for the nonsense that comes out of Sacramento.”
He cited an ongoing Department of Justice lawsuit over Orange County’s voter rolls, which allegedly include noncitizens. Wagner proposed cooperating with federal officials to clean the rolls, but his motion was voted down by a Democratic majority on his board.
“Rather than fight the Department of Justice, we should have said, ‘Thank you—let’s fix this together,’” he explained.
Wagner concluded that, as Secretary of State, he would stand up to both Sacramento and Washington when necessary:
“I’ll be fighting for the people of California, not the powers that be. If voters pass something like voter ID in 2026, I’ll enforce it.”
California stands at a crossroads, with economic strain, water shortages, and political gridlock defining the current landscape. Former state legislator and Orange County leader Don Wagner is running for California Secretary of State, positioning himself as a candidate who values integrity, business reform, and a renewed respect for the state’s agricultural heartland. In an in-depth interview with Ag Meter, Wagner spoke candidly about California’s challenges—from water policy and food insecurity to election reform and federal relations—and how he believes the state can return to prosperity.
Proposition 50 and Representation in California
As California looks ahead to the next election cycle, one issue taking center stage is Proposition 50, a measure that Wagner says will have far-reaching consequences for the state’s political and agricultural balance.
“Proposition 50 is enormously big,” Wagner said. “It shows the utter hubris of the Democrats pushing it.”
Wagner explained that, under the current system, Republican candidates statewide typically earn about 40 percent of the vote but hold only 20 percent of congressional representation. He warned that if Prop 50 passes, that representation could drop to less than 10 percent, effectively silencing millions of Californians.
“There’s something wrong with the system that allows us to get that out of whack,” he said. “If Prop 50 passes, it will take nationally the disaster that is California government. America should not follow Gavin Newsom down the path of bad government.”
Protecting the Central Valley and America’s Food Supply
The discussion turned to the Central Valley, the state’s agricultural engine, and the potential fallout if measures like Prop 50—and continued mismanagement of water and resources—go unchecked.
“We feed the rest of the world,” Ag Meter’s host reminded listeners. “If we lose the Central Valley, our nation’s food supply will crumble.”
Wagner agreed, calling California’s agricultural decline “criminal and nonsensical.”
“It should be the other way around,” he said. “We ought to be able to provide for ourselves and others. The problem isn’t that we don’t know how to grow—it’s that government makes it hard to grow. They don’t give you the water, they don’t help you export. It hurts people.”
Wagner reiterated his belief that the agricultural community is the true engine of California’s prosperity and that policymakers in Sacramento have failed to recognize it.
“When people think of California, they think beaches and high tech,” Wagner said. “But what really drives this state is our ag community. The amount of resources and food that come out of the Central Valley makes California truly special. And yet, in Sacramento, they have no idea about that.”
“We Can Make California Golden Again”
As the interview drew to a close, Wagner expressed optimism that California’s problems can be solved—but only through leadership that understands business, agriculture, and accountability.
“What’s gone wrong is bad government,” Wagner said. “Let’s fix it at every level—Governor, Secretary of State, state houses. Stop sending people who don’t understand business or agriculture. We absolutely can fix it. It’s going to take a lot of work, but there is a path.”
The path forward, according to Wagner, begins with restoring common sense and integrity to governance. He hopes to inspire a wave of voters ready to return California to the principles of productivity, fairness, and opportunity.
“I do believe this state can be golden again,” he added.
A Message to California’s Agricultural Community
Before signing off, Wagner thanked the Ag Meter audience—many of whom represent the farmers, ranchers, and business owners at the heart of the state’s economy.
“I know Secretary of State isn’t always top of mind for the ag community,” he said. “But it matters—because the office touches elections, business filings, and the rules that shape how agriculture operates. We need someone who respects the ag community and understands its importance, not just to California but to the entire nation.”
Wagner also took aim at the current leadership:
“We don’t need to stay on the wrong path with Newsom and his appointed Secretary of State. What we need are people who believe in California’s potential—and in its people.”
For those wanting to learn more or get involved, Wagner directed listeners to his campaign site, wagnerforcalifornia.com.
“If you have questions, reach out,” he said. “I’m ready to listen and ready to fight for the people of California.”
As Ag Meter host Nick summed it up:
“It’s really California common sense versus the Twilight Zone right now. We’ve got to bring common sense back to California.”
And Wagner’s reply captured his campaign’s spirit:
“I’m with you on that, Nick.”
Conclusion: Common Sense, Accountability, and Renewal
Don Wagner’s conversation with Ag Meter painted a vivid picture of a state rich in resources and talent but burdened by bureaucracy and political mismanagement. His message to voters was clear—California’s challenges are man-made and solvable, and restoring the state’s greatness begins with practical leadership rooted in integrity and respect for the people who feed and fuel America.