{"id":2626325,"date":"2026-07-07T20:39:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T00:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/deep-red-ca-community-outraged-after-court-rules-its-elections-arent-fair-to-minorities-unilaterally-changes-elections\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T20:43:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T00:43:57","slug":"deep-red-ca-community-outraged-after-court-rules-its-elections-arent-fair-to-minorities-unilaterally-changes-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/deep-red-ca-community-outraged-after-court-rules-its-elections-arent-fair-to-minorities-unilaterally-changes-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Deep-Red CA Community Outraged After Court Rules Its Elections Aren&#8217;t Fair to Minorities, Unilaterally Changes Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdeep-red-ca-community-outraged-after-court-rules-its-elections-arent-fair-to-minorities-unilaterally-changes-elections%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2626325&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Residents of Huntington Beach, a Republican-majority city in California, are upset over a court order requiring them to adopt a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/glenn-youngkin-wins-gop-nomination-for-governor-of-virginia\/\" title=\"Glenn Youngkin Wins GOP Nomination For Governor Of Virginia\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/andrew-yang-has-commanding-lead-in-nyc-mayoral-race-poll-shows\/\" title=\"Andrew Yang Has Commanding Lead In NYC Mayoral Race, Poll Shows\">ranked-choice voting<\/a> system<\/a>.The judge&#8217;s decision aims to address alleged disenfranchisement of minorities, particularly in the Latino oak View neighborhood, under the previous at-large voting method. A legal battle initiated by local resident Victor Valladeres, who advocates for ranked-choice voting, led to this ruling, which is based on the California voting Rights Act. Critics, mainly local residents and officials, argue that the decision undermines local democracy and favors Democrats, with concerns about losing the city&#8217;s unique identity and fair depiction. The city has until a specified deadline to respond and decide whether to appeal. If no appeal is made, implementing the new voting system before the upcoming elections may face logistical delays. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >controversy reflects broader political tensions<\/a> over voting reforms and representation in California communities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Residents in a Republican stronghold in deep-blue California are furious at a judge\u2019s order that they adopt a ranked-choice voting system because the current system allegedly disenfranchises minorities.<\/p>\n<p>Now, after the judge\u2019s June ruling tentatively imposed the system upon the Orange County community of Huntington Beach, angry residents of the city of roughly 200,000 people are speaking out about what some of them say is an attempt by Democrats to \u201cpush us into this one-party state\u201d and destroy the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fact-check-california-officials-catch-republican-woman-registering-dog-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Republican<\/a> supermajority that residents have elected to the city council.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/voiceofoc.org\/2026\/06\/oc-judge-orders-huntington-beach-to-switch-to-a-new-election-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Voice of OC<\/a>, the ruling from Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig Griffin \u201ccomes after a yearslong legal battle where Surf City leaders opposed changing their current at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-orders-mission-viejo-to-pay-700000-in-legal-fees-for-term-limit-lawsuits\/\" title=\"Mission Viejo ...ed to pay 0k in legal fees for term limit lawsuits by judge.\">-large voting system<\/a>, which sees all voters select city council members in staggered terms for office with one vote, usually in general elections in the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The suit was initially pushed by Victor Valladeres, a resident, who began a push to change to ranked-choice voting, a system generally favored by Democrats, nearly a decade ago.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI got a lot of pushback from the majority council in the past. When certain candidates were elected in 2017, I brought up the idea of electoral voting districts and they were not in favor,\u201d Valladeres told the outlet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m optimistic that things will be better with the victory that we had in court to get candidates that have the best interest of the community and not big donors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His lawyer concurred \u2014 although his reasons appeared political in nature.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think ranked-choice voting with all seven seats up at the same time will also give sane residents of Huntington Beach the ability to bring some sanity to a city council that has otherwise demonstrated its insanity over the past several years,\u201d Kevin Shenkman, a Malibu-based Democratic activist, said.<\/p>\n<p>The judge\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/voiceofoc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ShowDocument.do-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ruling<\/a> cited the California Voting Rights Act, which states that \u201c[a]n at-large method of election may not be imposed or applied in a manner that impairs the ability of a protected class of candidates to elect candidates of its choice or its ability to influence the outcome of an election.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/socal\/daily-pilot\/news\/story\/2026-06-26\/huntington-beach-ordered-to-switch-to-ranked-choice-voting-for-city-council-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Los Angeles Times<\/a>, the plaintiffs convinced the judge that the Oak View section of the city, which is primarily Latino, was not properly represented.<\/p>\n<p>After the June 25 ruling, Huntington Beach City Atty. Mike Vigliotta told the Times in an  that the city is looking into how to proceed with outside counsel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not a fan,\u201d 56-year-old resident Cindy Guinasso, a married mother of two, told the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/05\/us-news\/california-maga-stronghold-erupts-after-shock-ruling-on-conservative-paradise-theyre-coming-after-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t seen it be extremely successful in other states. I\u2019ve heard that more states are trying to get rid of it because it has not been beneficial,\u201d she said, adding that a judge\u2019s unilateral decision means they would \u201cnot have a fair voice\u201d and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/months-closing-beaches-newsom-smugly-suggests-people-hit-sand-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Huntington Beach<\/a> would \u201close its individuality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are people trying to move us to be more like the rest of California,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re trying to spend money more wisely. We\u2019re trying to be more fair and not be a one-party state. They\u2019re trying to push us into this one-party state and the rank-choice voting helps them do that. We\u2019re a local community that needs to be run by locals \u2014 not big government.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>State Sen. Tony Strickland knows Huntington Beach well. The Republican used to be its mayor. He calls the \u201cextremely liberal\u201d ruling \u201ccrazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe folks just don\u2019t want democracy,\u201d he told the Post. \u201cOnly one city in Orange County uses this kind of election process, and the state \u2014 we don\u2019t have a viable voting system to adhere to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/l-facing-economic-ruin-deputy-mayor-shows-off-empty-beaches\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Huntington Beach<\/a> mayor \u2014 and current council member \u2014 agreed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t have a problem \u2014 they\u2019re creating a problem,\u201d Gracy Larrea-Van Der Mark said of California\u2019s Democratic machine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur charter already provides for a fair and equitable system, and I don\u2019t believe any other system would provide any better representation for our residents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Huntington Beach officials declined to respond to the Post\u2019s Sunday report. The city has two weeks to officially respond to the court\u2019s verdict, which gives them until Thursday for a legal response.<\/p>\n<p>If the city chooses not to appeal, it\u2019s unclear whether it will be able to implement a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-poll-trump-backed-kelly-tshibaka-leads-alaska-senate-race-lisa-murkowski-losing-in-reelection-bid\/\" title=\"Exclusive \u2014 Poll: Trump-Backed Kelly Tshibaka Leads Alaska Senate Race, Lisa Murkowski Losing in Reelection Bid\">ranked-choice system<\/a> in time for the November elections. Other communities that have implemented similar changes or had those changes imposed upon them have delayed rolling them out because of logistics concerns and issues surrounding certification of the new systems.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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