State Sen. Kelly Seyarto Selected As Next Senate GOP Caucus Chair

Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) announced on Monday that Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) will succeed Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach) as the new Senate Republican Caucus Chair on September 1st, resulting in the latest shakeup of leadership in Sacramento.

Nguyen has been the Caucus Chairwoman, one of the highest position for a member of the Senate from either party to obtain, since January of 2023. However, due her running for Orange County Supervisor next year, a position she originally held from 2007-2014, and needing more time for that and for constituents, she decided to step down at the end of the month. With the position soon to be open, Senate Republicans chose Seyarto to succeed her. On Monday, Seyarto accepted.

“Thank you to Janet for serving as Senate Republican Caucus Chair this session,” said Senate Minority Leader Jones in a statement. “Janet was the first Vietnamese American to serve in this position. Her leadership on cutting costs for Californians and combatting crime has been unparalleled. We are sorry to see Janet leaving leadership but are fully supportive of her choice to devote her time to her constituents and her campaign. I know she will continue to fight to fix California.

“Congratulations to Kelly on his new role as Senate Republican Caucus Chair. I look forward to working with him on our priorities to fix California. As a retired firefighter, Kelly is a fearless advocate for protecting the public and tackling fentanyl in our communities. I have no doubt he will help lead our caucus with passion and commitment to improving the quality of life for all Californians.”

Senator Seyarto also remarked on her elevation on Monday, saying that “I am grateful for the service and leadership of my great colleague and good friend Senator Nguyen during her tenure as Caucus Chair. I look forward to working with all of my colleagues while we continue to work toward a better California by focusing on important issues like public safety, taxpayer protections, and infrastructure improvements to support our communities.”

Top GOP Senate Leadership Now Focused in San Diego

When Seyarto becomes Caucus chair next month, it will mark the first time that two San Diego Senators will hold the top spots in the party in the Senate. Many noted on Monday that the leadership shift continues to refocus further on Southern California in the Senate.

“You usually think of non-Coastal areas or Orange County of being the big Republican blocks, but San Diego is going to have the top few spots for a while now,” said “Dana” a staffer at the State Capitol Building in Sacramento. “But, at least in the Senate, that is where the leadership is coming from right now. Jones has proven himself capable, Nguyen did, and Seyarto, who is a former fire chief, Mayor, and Assemblyman, has the pedigree too. As an added bonus, with wildfires becoming more and more of an issue and insurance companies pulling out because of greater fire risks, the GOP will have a top guy who is knowledgeable about fires and fire risk. It’s a smart move.”

Meanwhile, Democrats in the Senate are also preparing for a major shakeup soon as well. On Monday, Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) announced that he likely has enough votes to become the next Senate Pro Tem and replace current Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). While nothing official has been set in stone, it is likely that McGuire would succeed Atkins sometime early next year.

“Another San Diego person,” added “Dana”. “You should notice that everyone being picked for these spots is either at the extreme North or extreme South of the state. The Bay Area, LA, and other areas that traditonally have people in these top positions isn’t happening as much. Both parties  have been focusing on elsewhere.”

Seyarto is set to succeed Nguyen on September 1st.