CalChamber Public Affairs Conference Day 2: Looks Back at Elections, Ahead on Hot Issues

Reviewing the past to gain understanding of the future was a recurring theme in presentations on the second day of the CalChamber Public Affairs Conference.

The first morning session yesterday featured longtime campaign strategists presenting their perspectives on how California voters behaved in legislative and congressional races.

[Link](From left) Rob Stutzman moderates as Marva Diaz, Kate Holliday, David Wilson and Christy Wilson wait to recap California votes on the legislative and congressional races.

Sharing their expertise in a panel discussion moderated by Rob Stutzman of Stutzman Public Affairs were Marva Diaz of Diaz Strategies, Kate Holliday of Powers Interactive, Christy Wilson of Wilson-Callahan Strategies, and David Wilson of Red Dog Vote.

[Link](From left) Discussing AI policy considerations are CalChamber Policy Advocate Ronak Daylami (moderator), Assemblymember Diane Dixon, Senator Brian Jones, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and Assemblymember Marc Berman.

Next to take the stage with CalChamber Policy Advocate Ronak Daylami as moderator were Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee), Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto), Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks). Their discussion focused on strategies moving forward to responsibly address artificial intelligence (AI).

[Link]CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman leads a discussion on antitrust competition and regulatory policy issues with (from left) Assemblymember Joe Patterson and Senators Anna Caballero, Steve Glazer and Thomas Umberg.

With barely a pause, CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman led legislators in a robust discussion, diving into antitrust issues and looking at competition versus regulation. Senators Anna Caballero (D-Merced), Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa) and Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) were joined by Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin).

[Link]Reviewing the national election results are (from left) Tara Palmeri, Puck News; Cassandra Pye (moderator), Lucas Public Affairs; and David Drucker, The Dispatch.

Following lunch, journalists Tara Palmeri of Puck News and David Drucker of The Dispatch provided what one attendee described as "an insightful national election post-mortem," facilitated by Cassandra Pye of Lucas Public Affairs.

[Link](From left) CalChamber's Adam Regele moderates a discussion on California's clean energy goals with Assemblymembers Lisa Calderon, Sharon Quirk-Silva, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Senator Anna Caballero, Assemblymember James Gallagher and Senator Ben Allen.

At the afternoon issues session, Adam Regele, CalChamber vice president of advocacy and strategic partnerships, moderated a discussion of California clean energy efforts. The legislative panelists were Assemblymembers Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), James Gallagher (R-Nicolaus), Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), plus Senators Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Anna Caballero (D-Merced).

In the final panel discussion, experienced ballot measure campaign strategists Brandon Castillo of BCFS Public Affairs, Courtni Pugh of Hilltop Public Solutions and Jim DeBoo of DeBoo Strategy commented on California voters' response to this year's propositions.

Photos by Matt Lara

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