California State Sen. John Laird, reelected to a second term, faces a complex landscape as former President Donald Trump returns to office. Drawing on his past experiences resisting first-Trump-term environmental policies, Laird anticipates new challenges for California, from federal tensions over climate initiatives to potential impacts on immigration and education policy.
The Trump presidency and Santa Cruz County
News and opinion coverage of reaction in Santa Cruz County to the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president, plus news from around California via Lookout’s content partners.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I am so sick about the election … but not for the reasons you think
Activist, artist and writer Donna Maurillo has no patience for those criticizing Kamala Harris: “With only 100 days to the election, she was thrown into the arena wholly unprepared to face a man who had been working for more than four years to plan his election team, his policies, his strategies, and his roadmap. Four years versus 100 days.” She laments that two-thirds of the top economic superpowers of the world have had women presidents or prime ministers and says the U.S. is sadly absent.
Posted inEducation
‘It’s terrifying. It’s like an apocalypse’: Pacific Collegiate School students march against Trump
A senior at Pacific Collegiate School, Zero Pabich felt horrible after the news of Donald Trump’s victory last week. So the day after the election, Pabich said they began organizing a protest to show that young people will continue fighting to protect the rights of marginalized communities.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘I hope for the 1960s’: Republicans in Santa Cruz County come out of hiding after Trump’s victory
In the heart of liberal Santa Cruz County, an unlikely gathering of Donald Trump supporters came together on Election Night. After Trump’s second ascendancy to the White House, local conservatives and Trump supporters say they don’t want to hide anymore. Meanwhile, residents in the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities gird for the second term of a president who has targeted them constantly.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
To move forward from a traumatic election, it’s time to say goodbye to some worn-out beliefs
For those who didn’t vote for Donald Trump, last week’s election offers an opportunity to shed some cherished but outdated ideas about elections, demographics and America’s character.
Posted inEducation
After election, Santa Cruz County school leaders affirm rights of immigrant, LGBTQ+ communities
Santa Cruz County education leaders say there’s a feeling of anxiety among many families in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential victory. To immigrant and LGBTQ+ families, they say they’ll uphold and protect their rights.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Phalanx of Santa Cruz County leaders vows to stand with immigrant community in second Trump term
On Thursday, leaders representing Santa Cruz city and county government, public schools and nonprofit organizations reassured the county’s immigrant community of their commitment to support and protect them following former President Donald Trump’s election Tuesday to a second term.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom calls special session to ‘Trump-proof’ California
Gov. Gavin Newsom wants the new Legislature to “protect” California from Donald Trump on civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families. The session will start Dec. 2.
Posted inLatest News
California beat Trump in court his first term. It’s preparing new cases for his second
California sued the Trump administration more than 100 times in his first term and secured some major victories on the environment, immigration and health care.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
After Trump win, leaders say they’ll protect Santa Cruz County’s immigrants
In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory Tuesday, a broad coalition of public and private sector leaders, including county officials, law enforcement, health care leaders and educators, is pledging to protect Santa Cruz County’s immigrants. In Watsonville, nonprofit organizations are beginning to navigate the potential impacts a second Trump presidency could have on the city’s large undocumented population and how they’ll reassure the community the next four years.