Charlie Kirk, assassinated for his political beliefs and his tireless activism, was only three years younger than me. I’m a fourth-generation Californian running for governor in a state where many view my party affiliation (Republican) and political beliefs (supportive of President Trump) as akin to fascism.
Republicans in deep-blue California long ago learned to laugh off such hyperbolic political name calling, but across the country political differences are increasingly regarded – on the Left – as a justification for violence and murder. Those of us who seek to make a difference through political involvement end up becoming potential targets of the mentally deranged and politically intolerant among us. Charlie’s murder is the latest example. We must find a better way.
Charlie was a nationally recognized and admired public figure, media pundit and Gen Z trendsetter. His ghastly murder happened on livestream as the world watched. In some ways, there had been ominous warnings beforehand: The attempted assassination of President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, the ambush-style murder of healthcare executive Brian Thompson, recent murderous attacks on religious schools and institutions – these events served as omens of what tragedies result when political, religious or other differences are settled by extreme violence.
The mainstream media and the Left bear much of the blame. Since Trump declared his candidacy for president a decade ago, anchors, reporters, pundits and his political opponents have painted him as another Hitler and his supporters as Nazis, fascists, oppressors and white supremacists.
Heated political rhetoric alone does not kill. The Left and its media cronies, however, are engaged in something worse: They cover up for, and cower before, violence. After the death of George Floyd in 2020, massive violent riots broke out across the country. Those who were most eager to call Trump and his supporters fascists and Nazis repeatedly claimed, sometimes while standing in front of burning buildings and looted stores, that the country was witnessing “mostly peaceful” protests.
It was shameful, serving to justify extreme violence committed by those who deemed themselves “oppressed,” against those they deemed as “oppressors.” Alas, an entire generation of young people have come of age in a nation where this belief is screamed loudly and repeatedly on television and smartphone screens and across college campuses.
After Charlie Kirk’s death, plenty of shamefulness was on display as well. The Left blamed conservatives and attacked President Trump and, in some corners, were quick to cheer Charlie’s death on social media. Even in Congress, Democrat members did not have enough decency to allow a verbal prayer on the floor of the House of Representatives without mayhem.
By contrast, conservatives came together to hold vigils in order to mourn and pray. They did not shut down cities with mass protests or burn neighborhoods down and engage in reckless looting.
We need more such civility and restraint. I believe firmly in ushering in more decency in our public discourse, and I will practice that every day as I campaign for governor. This does not mean shying away from my core convictions. Rather, I will share with every Californian I meet the drastic reforms necessary to address the immense problems inflicted by one-party Democratic rule on my state. I hope to convince many of them that these ideas are decent and common sense and proven – and not fascist.
My family business, Zacky Farms, was at one point the largest private employer in California and the largest poultry company on the West Coast. After nearly 100 years in business, the company was forced to close in 2018, due to suffocating regulations imposed by Sacramento and worsening economic conditions.
On the campaign trail, I share with voters each day the lessons I learned helping to run my family business, and what the state can do to improve on issues ranging from taxes, minimum wage, water management, homelessness, illegal immigration and much more.
I love California and I want to make it better. To do that, those of us who offer solutions different from the leftist ruling elites and Democratic super-majority in this state have to talk to and persuade as many voters as possible, including those who might disagree.
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death, I vow to keep talking. It is the best way to combat violence as the tragic, destructive and criminal recourse it is for settling our political differences.