Turbulent week in national politics impacts Kern County

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — With the jampacked week in politics, what are the local implications of it all?

Here in Kern too, there continues to be strong reaction to the state of our politics.

From Donald Trump becoming the official GOP presidential nominee to growing calls for President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid, from the dozens of Democratic lawmakers including Fresno Congressman Jim Costa and Senate Candidate Congressman Adam Schiff, this week has offered an abundance of political headlines.

Kern’s own Democrats agreed.

Chris Romo, chair of the Democratic Party of Kern, told 17 News, “At this time I do think he should step aside… I think there are other candidates that have a way better shot.”

17’s Democratic Political Analyst Neel Sannappa shared the same sentiment.

“It’s really the decision of Harris and Biden to decide you know who has the better pathway ahead,” Sannappa said.

And at the RNC were Kern’s very own as delegates for the 20th and 22nd Congressional districts.

They weighed in on another Trump presidency.

I’m very excited that he will be the president of the United States,” said state Senator Shannon Grove (R- Bakersfield), who attended as a CD-20 delegate.

“His integrity and passion came through for the American people,” added CD-22 delegate Stan Ellis.

Delegates also pondered on who the new Democratic frontrunner may be.

Ellis said, “No matter who [the Democrats] put in at this point in time, Trump’s going to take it.”

17 Political Analyst and CD-20 delegate Cathy Abernathy noted, “I don’t think anyone has much respect for Kamala Harris,” referring to the widespread comments the vice president could replace Biden at the top of the ticket.

One delegate, perhaps most familiar to Kern — Former House Speaker and CD-20 representative Kevin McCarthy — made the news on heated moments with political nemesis Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.

During McCarthy’s live CNN interview, Gaetz confronted McCarthy, saying, “What night are you speaking? Are you speaking tonight? Hey, you’re not, if you took that stage, you’d get booed off, you would get booed off the stage.”

In an interview with NBC News afterwards, McCarthy responded, “I think it shows exactly who Matt Gaetz is.”

When asked if he thought he’d get booed off stage, McCarthy answered, “Not at all,” explaining he still has a “very close” relationship with the president.

“I think at the end of the day, he probably shouldn’t be on the streets,” McCarthy said of Gaetz.

And the country continues to hold its breath amid ongoing reports Biden can drop out at any moment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.