California Senate leader condemns senator for ‘online racist attack’ on fellow lawmaker
Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-North Coast, on Tuesday harshly condemned Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, R-Jackson, over a post she made on X Monday that McGuire described as an “online racist attack.”
The post in question read, “We are on day 1 of the new session and Grand Wizard Gonzalez of the Latino Caucus is already in my face. She tried to kick me out of the Senate break room so she could have ‘privacy.’ Uhhh nope. I am a CA State Senator just ... like ... you ...” Profanity in Spanish followed.
Alvarado-Gil’s tweet likened Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, who chairs the California Legislative Latino Caucus and also serves as Senate Majority Leader, to the head of the racist organization Ku Klux Klan. Gonzalez kicked Alvarado-Gil out of the Latino Caucus last year after the latter switched parties from Democrat to Republican.
In his Tuesday statement, McGuire called Alvarado-Gil’s post “abhorrent” and said that it “must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by both sides of the aisle.”
Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-Santee, who leads the Senate Republican Caucus, responded to McGuire’s statement with a statement of his own Tuesday.
“Racism and personal attacks have no place in our political discourse or within any governing body on either side of the aisle. Yesterday’s conflict stems from a history of ongoing tensions between some members that have escalated since Senator Alvarado-Gil switched parties,” Jones said in a statement.
“While emotions ran high, I urge all members to resolve workplace conflicts privately and professionally. As one legislative body, I strongly encourage us to return in January with a renewed focus on collaboration and a commitment to avoid fueling divisive politics,” he said.
Jones added that his caucus remains committed “to rising above unnecessary drama, delivering results, and working tirelessly to fix California.”
In a text message to The Bee, Alvarado-Gil wrote, “I call it as I see it. There will be no apology.”
“Let’s speak openly of the cultivation of hate towards Latinos who don’t agree with the exclusionary views from 50 years ago. The CA Legislative Latino Caucus is antiquated and unapologetically aligned with the gross value principles of pure-race, pure-class racism,” Alvarado-Gil wrote. “Maybe Gonzalez and McGuire should focus on winning Latinos back to California instead of puppeteering their own agenda under the shroud of brown democracy.”
“There is absolutely no excuse for a member of the California Legislature to invoke one of the worst terror organizations in our nation’s history. Words have meaning, and her hate speech is downright dangerous,” McGuire said.
McGuire then said that Alvarado-Gil “has enough troubles as it is,” possibly a reference to the ongoing sexual harassment case against her — her former chief of staff, Chad Condit, accused the senator of using her position of power to exploit him for sexual favors.
“She owes Senator Gonzalez and the people of California a public apology for her hate-filled tirade,” McGuire said.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 1:14 PM with the headline "California Senate leader condemns senator for ‘online racist attack’ on fellow lawmaker."