Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) made waves in his debate with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) by wielding an unlikely exhibit: a map of San Francisco showing how to avoid human fecal matter on the streets. It’s an unsightly picture but reflective of California as a state, once the envy of the country but now increasingly battered by progressive policies.

Democratic lawmakers have long outnumbered conservatives in California, but the state is now veering leftward at a rapid pace. The state legislature has introduced between 1,000 and 2,500 bills annually, with sessions that last two years. There were approximately 2,632 bills, and six special session bills, for 2022-23.