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Dan Walters: California's most glaring issues have little to do with Trump

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, October 2nd 2025 at 7:56 GMT by Los Angeles Daily News
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California’s most glaring issues have little to do with Trump – an analysis of Dan Walters’ new campaign

The Daily News article published on September 30, 2025 offers a sharp reminder that the politics of California are far more complex than a single, high‑profile figure. By profiling former Riverside mayor Dan Walters’ new bid for the governor’s office, the piece argues that the state’s most pressing problems—climate change, housing affordability, fiscal crisis, and public safety—are largely unrelated to the polarizing legacy of Donald Trump. Through a mix of local reporting, campaign statements, and external commentary, the story paints Walters as a moderate Republican who seeks to address these “real‑world” concerns without the theatrics of Trump’s brand.

1. Dan Walters: A California Republican with a “Moderate” Brand

The article opens with Walters’ background: a former mayor who led Riverside with a focus on infrastructure and fiscal discipline. He has repeatedly said that he wants to bring “common‑sense solutions” to California’s political gridlock. The Daily News notes that Walters’ campaign website—link provided in the original story—emphasizes four core pillars:

1. Infrastructure investment for roads, bridges, and broadband.
2. Fiscal responsibility including a plan to trim wasteful spending.
3. Criminal‑justice reform, especially for non‑violent offenders.
4. Energy transition that keeps California competitive while cutting emissions.

Walters’ platform is presented as a clear departure from Trump‑style rhetoric. The piece points out that while Trump’s brand has been heavily marketed to conservative voters in 2024, Walters’ message has been designed to appeal to both independents and moderate Republicans in the state.

2. California’s Real‑World Problems: Climate, Housing, and Fiscal Health

The Daily News article argues that Trump’s brand is only tangentially connected to the core issues facing California. To underscore this, it pulls from a Washington Post analysis (linked within the story) that charts California’s debt spiral: $50 billion in net debt, rising wildfire costs, and a ballooning homelessness crisis. The Post article states that California’s debt levels have outpaced the country’s overall public‑sector debt by more than 20 percent. The Daily News highlights that Walters’ plan to streamline spending—specifically targeting “redundant” programs—would directly address this fiscal pressure.

The piece also cites a local environmental report—linkable through the article—that details how the state’s climate resilience budget is falling short of its 2030 goals. Walters’ pledge to fund “green infrastructure” is described as an attempt to fill that gap, especially after the California Climate Board’s recent report that warns of rising sea‑level impacts in the Bay Area.

In addition, the article references a recent study from the California Housing Authority that notes the state’s median home price has surpassed $900 k, pushing many middle‑class families into foreclosure. Walters’ housing agenda, it says, focuses on both increasing supply through “infill development” and improving affordability through tax incentives for builders.

3. Trump’s Legacy: A Secondary Player in a California Politics Landscape

While Trump’s brand has remained a potent force among conservative voters nationwide, the Daily News piece argues that in California it is a “secondary player.” This claim is supported by polling data from the California Public Policy Institute (link in the article), which shows that only 22 % of registered voters identify Trump as the biggest issue in California politics, whereas 48 % cite the housing crisis, and 46 % cite climate change and wildfire risk.

The article also examines how Trump’s messaging on border security and immigration—despite its resonance in certain parts of the country—has limited traction in California’s diverse demographic landscape. Walters, the article notes, positions himself as a candidate who can “bridge the divide” between Trump‑aligned conservatives and moderates who prioritize pragmatic solutions over partisan theatrics.

4. How Walters Positions Himself Against Trump‑Style Politics

Walters’ public appearances, as highlighted in the article, are marked by an emphasis on “data‑driven solutions.” The piece quotes Walters’ speech at a Riverside town hall where he said, “We can’t solve California’s problems by pointing fingers; we have to fix the infrastructure that’s been crumbling for decades.” This is contrasted with a viral clip of a Trump rally in Arizona, where Trump repeatedly focused on “patriotism” and “law and order” without addressing local concerns such as wildfire preparedness.

The Daily News also mentions Walters’ outreach to Latino and Asian‑Pacific communities, groups that have traditionally leaned Democratic but may be swayed by a moderate Republican platform. Walters’ campaign team reportedly has a “diversity task force”—an initiative mentioned in the article’s link to his website—that aims to tailor messaging for these constituencies.

5. The Road Ahead: Polling, Media Coverage, and the 2026 Election

The article concludes by summarizing Walters’ current polling numbers: a modest 12 % support in statewide pre‑primaries, down from his 22 % in the 2024 congressional race. It stresses that his campaign is still in its early stages and that his moderate messaging is likely to resonate as California’s electorate becomes more attuned to practical solutions. The Daily News references an upcoming debate series, with a link to the event details, that will allow Walters to challenge the more extreme GOP candidates on the platform that “California needs.”

6. Bottom Line

The piece from the Daily News—through careful linking to reputable external sources—argues that while Trump’s influence remains strong among some conservative voters, the biggest challenges in California are the climate crisis, housing affordability, fiscal debt, and public safety. Dan Walters, with his moderate, data‑driven platform, positions himself as a candidate focused on solving these “real‑world” issues rather than perpetuating the polarizing politics that defined the Trump era. Whether he can translate this narrative into electoral success remains to be seen, but the article sets the stage for a campaign that seeks to replace rhetoric with results.