State of Gold Why I Left The Democrats: Gloria Romero On California's Political & Education Crisis
Guest:
Gloria Romero - Former California Senate Majority Leader
Guest Bio
Gloria Romero is the former Majority Leader of the California State Senate and a long-time advocate for education reform. With a PhD in psychology and her fearless approach, she has challenged powerful special interests from inside and outside the Capitol. In 2023, she made headlines by switching from Democrat to Republican, publicly endorsing Trump, and speaking out about the dysfunction in both Sacramento and the national Democratic Party.
Romero is also the architect of the Parent Trigger Law and the Romero Open Enrollment Act, empowering parents in failing districts to fight for better education options. Today, she continues to lead conversations around public accountability, school choice, and breaking the monopoly of the teachers’ unions on California’s education system.
Show Summary
Gloria Romero is no stranger to controversy — and in this episode, she brings the fire. From walking away from the Democratic Party to calling out the teachers’ union grip on California schools, Romero unpacks why she left, what she’s fighting for, and how parents can reclaim control of a broken system.
She reflects on her political awakening, the moment she saw the party’s values slip away, and the blowback that followed her switch. Romero also breaks down why only 8% of Black fourth graders in California read at grade level — and why it's not about race but about a system built to serve adults over students. This is a must-watch for anyone who cares about education, political courage, and the future of California.
Chapters
00:00 – Leaving the Democratic Party: The Awakening
02:15 – Gloria Romero's Background in Politics & Education
04:30 – How Party Elites Rigged the Primary (Clooney, Pelosi, Schumer)
06:40 – Why Other Legislators Don’t Speak Up
08:20 – The Teachers’ Union’s Grip on California
10:05 – Education in Crisis: Just 8% of Black Students Proficient in Reading
12:14 – Why the System Is Built for Adults, Not Students
14:02 – CEQA for Schools: Bureaucracy Over Kids
15:55 – Rebuilding Accountability and Real Governance
18:30 – The Parent Trigger Law: Why It’s Been Neutered
20:15 – Homeschooling, Charter Schools & Parental Rights
22:40 – Advice for Parents and Citizens: Take Action Now
25:02 – Gloria’s Vision for a Better California
27:30 – Rapid Fire: Dictator for a Day, Leaders She Respects, & What Gives Her Hope
Connect with Sen. Gloria Romero
- X: https://x.com/GloriaJRomero
- Website: https://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/academics/faculty/gloria-romero/
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