As Goes California

In an entertaining account of his surprisingly strong run for California governor in the 2021 recall election, bestselling author, commentator, and radio host Larry Elder argues that Democrats have systematically failed our country—especially black Americans.

Throughout his years as a popular LA talk radio host, Larry Elder watched California go from bad to worse under a regime of corrupt and ideological liberal management. Rising rates of crime, addiction, homelessness, immigration, and failing schools, skyrocketing energy and housing costs, crushing anti-business regulation, and numerous other problems—all traceable to Democratic policies—made life harder for the average Californian. Then came the COVID lockdowns, school closings, mask and vaccine mandates, the BLM riots, the defund the police movement, and a general breakdown of law and order in San Francisco and LA. People began fleeing the state in droves. In the midst of all this, Governor Gavin Newsom saw fit to drop $12,000 at a trendy French restaurant, sparking outrage throughout the state and leading to demands for a recall. A special election was held, and forty-five candidates jumped in.

Though not personally ambitious for office, Elder was strongly encouraged to run by numerous friends and associates. He performed extremely well, despite having no money or organization, constant sniping from his GOP rivals, and a relentlessly hostile media that absurdly labeled him “the Black face of white supremacy”—which is ironic, since Elder was the only candidate who paid any attention to the social and economic problems of Black people in America.

Now, in As Goes California, Elder tells the story of his lightning campaign and derives from it important lessons on how a new generation of Republican candidates can fight, win, and save our country.