California Republicans are feeling a surge of optimism after flipping three seats in the state legislature last fall and boosting Trump’s vote share in nearly every county. With the midterms looming in 2026, they see this as the perfect time to disrupt the Democratic supermajority that has long ruled the roost in the Golden State.

At their recent spring convention in Sacramento, party members cheered as leaders outlined their strategy, which could be summarized as twofold: Seize the moment and don’t blow it! With the U.S. House balancing precariously on the Republican side and memories of the disastrous Trump era still fresh, they’re keen to represent a less Trump-centric branch of the party.

Rep. Tony Gonzalez from Texas reminded folks that California is vital in determining whether the GOP can enact the policies Trump is pushing. But let’s be real; the relationship with Trump is a double-edged sword. While they need to energize the Trump base to win, they also want to avoid being associated too closely with the president. Remember the 2018 midterms? Yeah, that disaster is still haunting them.

California GOP leaders are targeting key Assembly districts in the Central Valley and Southern California, hoping to claw back some of those power seats. Their strategy involves reaching out to communities where they’ve traditionally been MIA, particularly among Latino voters who could potentially swing the vote.

But here’s the kicker: just raising crime rates and the cost-of-living while denying any connection to Trump isn’t going to magically bring in Democratic voters. The California GOP’s new chair, Corrin Rankin, is navigating these waters with a mixed bag of pragmatism and more extreme conservative elements within the party.

She represents a changing landscape in the GOP, she’s the first Black woman to lead the party in California. Still, she faces a tough crowd that’s itching for drastic changes. With potential gubernatorial candidates like ex-Fox News host Steve Hilton eyeing a chance to run, the party seems poised for more drama, even if it’s a long road ahead.

The key takeaway? California Republicans have a chance to shake things up, but whether they can kick their Trump habit while still keeping his loyalists on their side remains a massive question mark.

Things are heating up, and the GOP needs to act fast if they want to make even a dent in the Democrat-dominated landscape of California.