California Senate Republicans replace Trump-loyalist leader
California state Senate Republicans replaced their leader, Trump loyalist State Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Time reports.
Grove, who served in the position for two years, was dismissed from her post as Senate Republican Caucus leader after two of the 11 seats flipped during the November elections, the LA Times notes.
Grove’s replacement comes after she briefly tweeted — and then deleted — a false claim that the Capitol riots were carried out by antifa and not violent pro-Trump rioters.
“Patriots don’t act like this !!!” Grove wrote in the tweet in question. “This was Antifa.”
— Jon Eats Books and Pancakes (@CrimespreeJon) January 7, 2021
Grove deleted the tweet, and later retweeted a message from conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which stated, “Our side shouldn’t act like ANTIFA.”
Grove addressed the unanimous decision to elect state Sen. Scott Wilk (R) in her place in a statement on Wednesday.
“With the start of a new legislative session, I know Senator Wilk will do an outstanding job leading the caucus as we face the many challenges that lie ahead,” she wrote. “It has been an honor to serve as the Senate Republican Leader and fight for Californians who far too often do not have their voices heard in the Capitol.”
She said that she looks forward to working with Wilk, the Republican Caucus and other members of the Senate in the future.
With the start of a new #CALeg session, I know Senator @ScottWilkCA will do an outstanding job leading the caucus as we face the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to continuing working to restore the California dream.https://t.co/wdn2soQmfZ (2/2)
— Senator Shannon Grove (@ShannonGroveCA) January 21, 2021
The leadership change will become effective in a few weeks.
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