In this era of ideological polarization and perpetual partisan warfare, itâs difficult to grasp the collegial, bipartisan ambience that once prevailed in Californiaâs Senate.
Democrats usually occupied most of the Senateâs 40 seats, but Republicans were accorded virtually equal opportunities to carry significant legislation and even chaired major committees. Leaders of the two parties maintained the clubby atmosphere with an informal prohibition on partisan challenges of incumbents.
A rebellious Republican senator named H.L. Richardson disliked the no-challenge understanding and sponsored Republican candidates who defeated three Democratic senators in the 1978 and 1980 elections, exploiting Californiaâs rising crime rates.