A chat with Asm. David Tangipa

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome Asm. David Tangipa, the freshman Republican legislator from the 8th Assembly District, and at 29, the youngest member of the California Legislature. Tangipa grew up off Watt Avenue in Sacramento, not for from McClellan Air Force Base. The impact that McClellan’s closure had on Tangipa’s friends and neighborhood left a lasting impression – and an awareness that policy decisions affected lives in very real ways. Sports offered a way out of the neighborhood; encouraged by his high school football coach, Frank Negri, Tangipa attended college at Cal State Fresno where he played tight end for the Fresno Bulldogs. Tangipa began working in real estate and got involved involved in Fresno politics, serving as a field representative for Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig. In 2024 he launched a bid for the open 8th District Assembly seat, challenging the favorite, former Congressman George Radanovich. Radanovich led in the Primary, but lost by 7 points in the general.

Tangipa joined us to talk about his path to Sacramento, his extraordinarily short tenure on the Assembly Insurance Committee, and why he – the first Tongan ever to serve in the #caleg – is not part of the AAPI Legislative Caucus.

Plus: Who had the worst week in CA politics?

1:01 SB581 story

2:35 Welcome Paula Treat and Matt Rodriguez

3:31 Conferences coming: AI on July 8; Health Care on October 1

6:05 Welcome Asm. Tangipa

7:09 Origin story

10:26 “By the time I was 14 years old I was 6’4 and 200 pounds”

12:10 vs. George Radanovich

14:01 Sacto vs. Fresno

16:33 Removal from committees

19:42 Relationships with other legislators

25:40 Any news on Federal fire funding?

29:14 Thoughts on the new building reform package?

32:34 #WWCA