New group aims to end GOP's frustrations in state
California Republicans Aligned for Tomorrow plans to recruit the 'next generation' of candidates for statewide office. The party has won only four of 24 such races since 1994.
Led in part by former Gov. Pete Wilson and two major political donors from Orange County, a group of moderate Republicans will announce Wednesday a new organization focused on recruiting the "next generation" of GOP candidates for statewide office, including governor and the U.S. Senate.
The organization, called California Republicans Aligned for Tomorrow, was created to turn around the GOP's dismal record in those contests since 1994.
Republican candidates have won only four of twenty-four possible statewide elections since that time and have failed to attract much support from Latino voters, the fastest-growing segment of the California electorate.
Underlying the campaign effort is the feeling among some influential Republicans that the state party has bent too far to the right, helping Democrats gain a firm grasp on the Legislature, the state's congressional delegation and statewide offices.
The state party's fundraising efforts also have languished in the last year, and GOP lawmakers in Sacramento continue to clash with the party's biggest star, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who by law must leave office in less than three years.
Larry Dodge of Orange County, founder of the banking and insurance firm American Sterling, will serve as chairman of the new Republican organization. Dodge, who was born in Redlands, has contributed or lent more than $5 million to Republican candidates and party organizations since 2002.
Dodge, Wilson and other founding members of the group, nicknamed CRAFT, will officially announced the group's political goals Wednesday morning.
The organization also includes California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring, Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines. Paul Folino, a major GOP donor and executive chairman of Emulex Corp. in Costa Mesa, also is a member.
