Scott Baugh is a lawyer, he has served as chairman of GRIP (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership), he is a founding trustee of Pacifica Christian High School, the founding chairman of the OC Marathon Foundation, and a board member of the Orange County Classical Academy.

As the GOP prepares to win the majority in the House of Representatives, Scott Baugh could clinch that goal for Republicans. Baugh, an Orange County resident, is challenging Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) in California’s 47th District. If Baugh pulls off the upset, which seems very doable, and defeats Porter, then it will be a given that Republicans win back the House.

Here is part of the Q&A:

Levon Satamian: During the primary election, Katie Porter got 51 percent of the vote, while you came in second with 30.8 percent, with the other Republican candidates combining for 18.2 percent. Is this a winnable race, considering Porter just edged out 51 percent of the vote?

Scott Baugh: Katie Porter has not only embraced the entire Joe Biden agenda, but she is also considerably more to the extreme left than he is. These kinds of big spending ultra-liberal policies she supports are totally out of step with Orange County voters. Porter now has a record, and her record will be exposed. This race is very winnable. But don’t take my word for it – all the pundits that analyze races have this on their list of competitive districts.

LS: This race, along with Assemblyman Kevin Kiley’s race could dictate whether the Republicans win the majority in the House. From speaking to voters, do you get a sense that Californians want change?

SB: I couldn’t speak to the attitudes of voters statewide, but I can tell you that from all my door-to-door walking in my Congressional District – inflation and real-world effects of government overspending are having a real and negative impact on people’s daily lives. While people struggle to fill up their gas tank or buy groceries, Porter has voted for over $20 TRILLION in new spending, with seeming indifference to what it is doing to all of us.

LS: What are the three most important propositions that voters should pay attention to in November, and why?

SB: The two most important propositions are Proposition 1 and Proposition 30. Proposition 1 would create a constitutional right to an abortion until the moment of birth. If passed, it would negate existing law that prohibits late-term abortions unless the life of the mother is at risk. Proposition 30 is a major income tax increase funded by a company that would benefit from the required taxpayer spending in the measure.

LS: What are the three big crises facing the state of California and the three big crises facing the United States?

SB: State:

1. Increasing levels of crime causing people to no longer feel safe.
2. Huge unfunded pension liabilities.
3. Massive over-taxation and over-regulation.

Federal:

1. Tax Reform – we need a flatter tax code, one that does not pick winners and losers.
2. Need to reverse the trend of ever-increasing spending and ballooning national debt.
3. We need to take control of our own border. It is currently porous and allows criminals and unknown persons to easily come into our country.

LS: We know that fentanyl is an extremely deadly drug. If the Republicans win the House, will you propose legislation to crack down on fentanyl coming into the United States and crack down on the drug dealers?

SB: I have already called for stronger interdiction of drug smugglers at the border and securing the border to reduce the inflow of illicit drugs. The practically unfettered ability to bring these drugs into America is a scourge and terrible. As an advocate of federalism, there is a primary role for the federal government to secure the border and a primary role for state and local governments in fighting domestic crime.

LS: What steps should the CAGOP take to convince independent voters and moderate Democrats to vote for Republicans across the board, especially in statewide races, such as Nathan Hochman for Attorney General, Brian Dahle for Governor, Lanhee Chen for State Controller, and Lance Christensen for Superintendent of Public Instruction?

SB: There are too many Democrats and too few Republicans in California to effectively promote a partisan message to vote for all Republicans. There needs to be a specific strategy for each office, with messaging to key voting groups being tailored to the strengths of our GOP candidates and the vulnerabilities of each Democrat. Clearly the biggest challenge for the
California GOP is raising substantial funds necessary to take this messaging to persuadable voters.

LS: Some people believe that their vote does not matter in CA because Democrats have a supermajority in the state. What’s your message to those voters?

SB: Every vote matters. Statewide races will be challenging, as will some local races. But it is hard to make the case for others to vote for Republicans if our own registered voters don’t turnout. I am running in a Congressional district where, if Republican turnout is high enough, I will be favored to win. But if GOP turnout is low, it makes winning very difficult.

This was part one of my interview with Baugh. Part two of the interview will be in October, where we discuss crime, AB5 law, and abortion, among other topics. Turnout is key for the GOP. If Baugh wins in California, that is a huge sign of a red wave and the GOP winning back the majority in the House.