16 Accounts That California Conservatives Should Follow on X
A first round of recommended voices worth following if you want a sharper view of California politics. Even as I publish this I have more names for a round two! But we have to start somewhere!
Our afternoon content is either high up, reserving most of the content for paid subscribers… OR… contains something special for our paid subscribers under the paywall. In this case, this list is visible to all, but the more entertaining part of this post is my video commentary, where I go through the list with you and talk about each person and why I put them on it. “Must see TV,” as they say! At the bottom of this column is a red button to upgrade — you can try it for free for a week! Support my work here (it’s not pricey). Finally, you can listen to this written column on our podcast channel, So, Does It Matter? Spoken here. Or search it out on your favorite podcasting app!
Who Am I Following On X? Here’s A Start…
A first round of recommended voices worth following if you want a sharper view of California politics.
For a long time, I have resisted putting together a list like this. Not because there aren’t great conservative voices on X talking about California politics — quite the opposite. There are so many that I was worried the moment I published a list, I’d realize I had left off several terrific follows.
But at some point, you just have to start. So consider this Round One — a first set of X accounts that are well worth following if you care about California politics from a conservative perspective. In fact, since finishing this list, I’ve already thought of at least five more accounts that probably deserve to be included, which means there will almost certainly be a second round — maybe even a third. Still, this is a very good place to begin.
And I’d love your help expanding the list. Are there California-focused voices on X you enjoy following that I should consider including in the next round? Maybe you? I tried to focus on accounts that spend a lot of time writing about California politics or issues affecting a specific part of the state, rather than on those whose commentary is mostly national. Perhaps I’ll do a separate list for those as well. If you have suggestions, please share them — either by leaving a comment on this post, replying directly to this email, or clicking the red button below to send me a note.
And with that, here are sixteen X accounts you should be following — well, seventeen if you count me.
The List (Round One)
Elizabeth Barcohana — @E_Barcohana
A California attorney and sharp political commentator who frequently posts analysis of legal issues, public policy, and cultural debates. Her feed mixes legal insight with pointed criticism of progressive governance in California.
Sheriff Chad Bianco — @ChadBianco
The Riverside County sheriff is a prominent Republican candidate for governor of California. Bianco uses X to speak bluntly about crime, immigration, and public safety while building a statewide following among voters frustrated with Sacramento leadership.
Lance Christensen — @lancelands
Vice President of the California Policy Center and a leading voice on education policy, school choice, and parental rights. Christensen regularly posts analyses of California’s education system and the policy debates shaping it.
Kevin Dalton — @TheKevinDalton
A California attorney and conservative commentator who regularly posts analysis of legal developments and public policy debates. His feed often focuses on constitutional issues and the legal consequences of progressive legislation in the state.
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio — @carldemaio
A Member of the California State Assembly and the Chairman of Reform California, DeMaio is a longtime government reform advocate who built his political profile in San Diego while serving on the City Council. DeMaio uses X aggressively to mobilize activists around taxpayer issues, ballot initiatives, and efforts to challenge Sacramento’s political establishment.
Katy Grimes — @KATYSaccitizen
Editor-in-Chief of the California Globe and one of the most persistent investigative reporters covering Sacramento politics from a conservative perspective. Grimes frequently breaks stories about legislation, regulatory overreach, and political hypocrisy before they reach larger outlets.
Chef Andrew Gruel — @ChefGruel
A Southern California restaurateur who also serves on the Huntington Beach City Council and has become a frequent national television guest, including regular appearances on Fox News’ Gutfeld. Gruel posts about small-business policy, regulation, and the impact of California’s political climate on entrepreneurs. You need to check out his cooking videos on his American Gravy YouTube channel.
Steve Hilton — @SteveHiltonx
A former Fox News host and prominent Republican candidate for governor of California. Hilton focuses heavily on the state’s affordability crisis and uses X to frame California’s policy direction as a warning to the rest of the country.
Kevin Kiley — @KevinKileyCA
A member of Congress from Northern California and, until last week, a Republican, Kiley announced that he has left the GOP and is running for re-election as an independent. Whatever the political implications of that move, his X feed has long been a must-read for sharp critiques of Sacramento policy, and few figures have served as a more persistent foil to Gavin Newsom.
Kostas Moros — @MorosKostas A constitutional attorney affiliated with the Second Amendment Foundation who is active in major gun rights litigation. Moros uses X to explain court decisions and the legal strategy behind challenges to California’s gun control laws, as well as general commentary I find interesting and useful.
Mike Netter — @nettermike
A Los Angeles entrepreneur who became politically active during the COVID shutdowns was a leader in the 2021 effort to recall Gavin Newsom, and is now a candidate for the State Senate! I have learned a lot from Mike's posts that I didn't know before.
Will O’Neill — @RealWillONeill
Chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County and a former longtime mayor and councilmember in Newport Beach. O’Neill finds many insights and ironies about the rule of Democrats in California and shares them here.
Joel Pollak — @joelpollak
Editorial Page Editor of the new California Post and a longtime conservative writer and commentator. Pollak blends legal analysis with political commentary, often highlighting the national implications of California’s policy choices.
Amy Reichert — @amyforsandiego
A San Diego political activist and organizer who founded Restore San Diego to recruit and support candidates focused on public safety, fiscal responsibility, and government accountability. Reichert has run for local office herself and built a following among grassroots conservatives pushing back against one-party rule in the city.
Ashley Zavala — @ZavalaA
Political Director and Capitol reporter for KCRA-3 TV in Sacramento who closely covers the state legislature and California political developments. Following her feed gives readers a real-time look at what the political press corps is reporting from the Capitol. Or at least what the press corps should be reporting…
CRPA News — @CRPANews
The official account of the California Rifle & Pistol Association and one of the most useful feeds for tracking Second Amendment issues in the state. It is a go-to source for alerts and analysis when major legislative or legal developments involving gun rights occur in California. It’s the only organization, rather than a person, on this list.
and THE MOST IMPORTANT ACCOUNT ON X TO FOLLOW (OF COURSE)…
Jon Fleischman — @FlashReport
Publisher of the Substack “So, Does It Matter?” and longtime California political commentator who previously published the influential FlashReport blog. His X feed highlights California political developments, promotes his commentary, and engages with activists and political insiders across the state. If you only follow one person on this list — well, it should be Jon (strange that I am referring to myself in the third person, eh?).
Video Walkthrough!
Below the paywall, I have a video commentary where I go through this whole list, one by one. Quintessential me - LOL. You don’t want to skip this.
