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Paid subscribers get our exclusive “One More Thing” extra segment with John Park — and this week, it’s a candid, personal moment that you won’t hear anywhere else.
🎙️ This Week on the So, Does It Matter? One-On-One Podcast — California’s Political Landscape: The GOP Convention, the Governor’s Race, and Newsom
John Park isn’t commenting from the sidelines — he’s in the room where decisions are made.
As Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party, Park is directly in the top leadership of the state GOP. From this perspective, we dive into a number of topics in California politics. In this week’s One-On-One Podcast, Jon sits down with Park for a conversation that dives into many current topics of the day.
They start with Park’s personal path — from immigrating to the United States to early political involvement in Virginia, and eventually building a successful career in the private sector before stepping into California politics. His deeper involvement began in 2018, when ballot harvesting reshaped elections, and Orange County Republicans were wiped out of Congress.
From there, the conversation moves directly into what’s happening right now.
The upcoming California Republican Party convention is shaping up to be a defining moment, with a high-stakes endorsement battle between Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. Park explains how the process works, what delegates are actually thinking, and why the outcome matters heading into the primary.
Then the focus shifts to the governor’s race.
Jon and Park break down the Democratic field — including Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell, and Tom Steyer — and assess who’s gaining traction, who isn’t, and why. This isn’t surface-level commentary — it’s a strategic look at the strengths, weaknesses, and positioning of each candidate.
They also take a hard look at Gavin Newsom — not just his national ambitions, but his record in California. From affordability and economic pressures to policy outcomes that don’t match the promises, the discussion focuses on what voters are actually experiencing on the ground.
Throughout the conversation, Park provides insight into how campaigns are really run — especially at the local level, where outcomes are often decided. It’s a reminder that even in a state dominated by one party, strategy and engagement still matter.
The episode wraps with a lightning round that gives you a more personal look at Park — including his views on leadership, policy priorities, and the direction of the country.
If you want to understand where California politics stands right now — and where it’s headed — this is the kind of conversation you should be listening to.
🎥 Watch the full conversation video above — and see the various audio options below.
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Useful Links
John Park CAGOP Vice Chairman on X
John Park Vice Chairman Website
California Republican Party Website
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