Los Angeles County GOP Chair Roxanne Hoge issued an impassioned appeal for Republicans nationwide to "send help" to California, describing what she sees as entrenched Democratic control and calling the state's electoral rules a form of codified corruption.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hoge addressed the online reaction to a viral campaign video posted by Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. In the video, Bass explained that the city government would match donations to her re-election campaign at a six-to-one ratio using public funds. "If you donate $5, the city turns it into $35," Bass said in the post.
"The rest of the country doesn't understand what we're living under here," Hoge told Fox News Digital. "What normal people consider cheating or weirdness in the electoral process? It's all in the rules [here]."
What the Left Is Saying
Public campaign financing advocates argue that programs like Los Angeles's matching funds system help reduce the influence of wealthy donors by amplifying small-dollar contributions from everyday residents. The program, which dates back to a 1990 voter-approved initiative, is designed to give ordinary citizens greater voice in local elections.
Bass did not respond directly to criticism of the video, but her campaign emphasized that all donations are subject to caps and eligibility rules under city law. A spokesperson noted that the matching funds system was established through democratic processes and expanded by the City Council over several decades.
"Public financing helps level the playing field," said one City Hall observer who spoke on background. "It means candidates don't have to be beholden to big donors or special interests just to run a competitive campaign."
What the Right Is Saying
Hoge was unsparing in her criticism, arguing that what began as a reasonable public financing concept has evolved into a taxpayer-funded subsidy for Democratic incumbents. "Voters passed something that sounded so good; they always sound so good at the beginning," she said. "And then it transmogrifies... into this many-headed hydra of insanity where taxpayers are on the hook for $6 for every dollar raised by a city of L.A. candidate."
Conservative commentator Matt Van Swol wrote online: "Can someone please explain to me like I'm 5 years old how this is not COMPLETELY illegal?" Author Michael Shellenberger described the program as "grotesque." Los Angeles doctor and political commentator Houman David Hemmati questioned why taxpayers unable to afford basic city services should fund Bass's campaign at a six-to-one ratio.
Hoge said she was not surprised by the reaction but noted that such programs are entirely legal under California law. She added that similar structures apply to City Council races, where she said multiple members of the Democratic Socialists of America currently serve.
"The message that Karen Bass is sending is the same message that those of us who live here behind the blue curtain have been getting for decades," Hoge said, invoking a reference to the film "Chinatown."
What the Numbers Show
Los Angeles operates one of the most generous public campaign financing programs in the country. Under the system, qualified donations to mayoral and City Council candidates are matched at a six-to-one rate using general fund dollars.
The program originated from a 1990 ballot initiative that established public financing on a one-to-one matching basis. The City Council later expanded the match ratio multiple times, reaching the current six-to-one level over several decades of amendments.
In this year's mayoral primary, Republican candidate Spencer Pratt garnered significant grassroots support despite being outspent by establishment rivals. While Pratt ultimately did not advance to the general election runoff, his campaign demonstrated unexpected strength in a heavily Democratic city.
According to city records, the matching funds program has distributed millions in public money to candidates across multiple election cycles. Critics note that the system benefits incumbents and well-organized progressive campaigns with established donor networks capable of maximizing matches.
The Bottom Line
The viral video brought renewed attention to California's unique approach to campaign finance, which critics say creates structural advantages for Democrats while raising questions about government resources being used to fund incumbent campaigns.
Hoge urged conservatives not to write off California as a lost cause. "California is totally worth fighting for because it is an absolute gem," she said, arguing that the state's western location aligns philosophically with conservative principles of individual freedom and limited government interference.
"We belong to the leave me alone party," Hoge said. "California, being in the west, is the ultimate place where you should be free to write your own story."
Bass's campaign did not provide a direct response to criticism by publication time. The mayor faces re-election in 2026 against an electorate that has shown occasional receptiveness to center-right candidates despite overwhelming Democratic voter registration numbers.