THE BUZZ — Who knew leadership transitions could go so smoothly? After less than 24 hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Sen. Mike McGuire, President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and the whole crew of Senate Democrats piled into a committee room late Monday evening to confirm the news: McGuire will be the next leader, scheduled to take over sometime in 2024 (exact date TBD). “The pro tem and I, we are unified on transition,†McGuire told reporters. Instead of playing out in a multi-season drama, the decision of who should be the next Senate leader opened and closed in just a matter of days, with the North Coast Democrat spending the weekend whipping votes before getting a unanimous show of approval in the Democratic caucus late Monday afternoon. Standing alongside McGuire Monday night, Atkins made her message clear — the Senate was not going to handle this the same way the Assembly did. With the end of session nearing, the lawmakers needed to focus on the work, she said. “That work does not mix well with internal caucus politics being at the top of everyone's mind,†she said. “A big reason for the decision today is because the caucus concluded that a long, drawn-out successor campaign would not be in the best interest of the Senate, nor the people that we were elected to represent. " McGuire’s maneuverings were Sacramento’s worst-kept secret for the better part of Monday — with tips pouring in from lawmakers, lobbyists and lookie-loos who had heard rumblings about a possible play for power. And anyone who read our reporting knew about it hours before it was official. As with any change of power, there is always the risk of dissent, and senators, hyper-aware of the fractiousness that had rocked their Assembly counterparts last year, were keen to keep the peace. But there was still discussion, with some senators raising concerns that the process was rushed and didn’t include a solid timeline. Nevertheless, within a few hours, Atkins and McGuire were standing side-by-side before a room of reporters, without any hint of disagreement. Sen. Bill Dodd was one of McGuire’s top lieutenants who worked the phones to sway caucus members over the weekend (along with Sen. Angelique Ashby and a handful of other moderates). He said McGuire avoided a drawn-out fight because he’s shown he’s “an expert at bringing people together†as majority leader. As for his priorities, McGuire said there’s no shortage of issues plaguing California and plans to address climate change, wildfires, insurance markets, reproductive rights and homelessness. “The reason why I would like to work with these senators is to continue to make sure that the California Dream is available to all,†he said.
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